- Sessions for two to four-year-olds are during the day
Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) is now delivering Toddler Soccer sessions at Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) children’s centres across the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
Now open to two to four-year-olds, Toddler Soccer helps children interact with their peers from a very young age.
Since April, CACT has been running Toddler Soccer in four new children’s centres.
The provision takes place in Vista Field in Eltham, Alderwood in Avery Hill, Storkway in Kidbrooke and Waterways in Thamesmead. CACT is also running a new session at Coldharbour Leisure Centre, an existing venue in New Eltham.
Sessions are unique to the children frequenting these particular centres but there are also a number of open sessions where families can turn up and pay on the day.
With the exception of Coldharbour Leisure Centre, bookings can be made directly via each leisure centre or children’s centre.
One of CACT’s longest-running programmes, Toddler Soccer is set for a full relaunch in September as part of a new-look Charlton Challenge scheme, which participants are encouraged to progress on to.
Using football as a tool, Toddler Soccer is intended to improve motor skills, balance, co-ordination and agility. It aims to create a fun, playful but also educational atmosphere in order to develop basic dribbling, passing and control skills.
More than 50 young people currently take part in the programme, which looks to ensure that they will gain an interest in sport and lead a healthy active lifestyle.
Bradley Marshall, CACT’s SE London Football & Sports Development Officer, said:
“It is fantastic to be working with GLL children’s centres. We already deliver at their leisure centre sites so this was a good opportunity to join the two together. I hope the children and families enjoy the sessions.’’
South Greenwich Children’s Centres said:
“South Greenwich Children’s Centres are excited to be working with CACT who are delivering the Toddler Soccer sessions in our children’s centres across the week.”
Tracey Megson from Waterways Children's Centre said:
"We are really happy at East Children's Centres to have these sessions available for children attending our nursery and after school club settings, and also families accessing our wider Children's Centre sessions. This fits in really well with our physical literacy strategy and HEY London objectives. We recognise sport as important for children's physical and mental health well being."
Many participants enjoy the sessions at Waterways. "It's wonderful, if I score I feel happy", one said, while another said "I like dribbling best".
One parent said:
“What a fabulous session it was! The coach was brilliant.”