After school football sessions helping children

Jersey Bulls Foundation has launched the new sessions at Rouge Bouillon Primary School

New after school football sessions are helping children in Jersey who struggle to access sport outside class.

Jersey Bulls Foundation has started working with Rouge Bouillon Primary School to offer pupils the chance to take part in structured training sessions with a qualified club coach.

The programme is for Year 4 pupils and will run through the school year.

The club has also given the children football tops and offered their families free match tickets for games at Springfield Stadium.

Emelia has enjoyed the after school football sessions at her school

Emelia, 9, said she enjoyed the sessions: "It's really important because everyone gets to learn new skills at the school."

Parents and teachers also attend the training sessions and cheer on the children.

PE lead, Andre Le Rossignol, said the children have really benifited from the sessions

Andre Le Rossignol, PE lead at Rouge Bouillon, has helped oversee the work Jersey Bulls have done with the school.

He said the children have been "blown away" by the sessions and there was "a real sense of pride" when they put on their Jersey Bulls kit.

"What I’m really keen for is that they’re not just active at school but once they leave school, they bring these healthy habits into their lives beyond school and into adulthood," said Mr Le Rossignol.

Michael de Jesus from Jersey Bulls Foundation hopes the pilot will be extended to more schools

Michael de Jesus is the Jersey Bulls coach leading the training sessions.

"Some of the children don’t have the opportunity to do stuff like this. It is incredible to see the joy on the kids’ faces," he said.

"It’s going incredibly well and hopefully in the future we will get more schools on board and have the programme too."