12 March 2018
Steve Cook has been coaching primary school children on the importance of respect and good behaviour.
Cook and assistant first team coach Steve Fletcher visited Winton Primary School in Bournemouth, with the club’s Community Sports Trust (CST).
The CST works with 4,000 people each week, from school children to the over 50s, on projects ranging from healthy living to road safety.
Each project has a Cherries first team player as its ambassador, to act as a role model and deliver its key messages.
Around 100 Year 6 pupils from Winton Primary took part in the CST’s Respect session, which encourages and promotes good and positive behaviour and discourages young people from acting disrespectfully within the local community.
AFC Bournemouth’s head of community Steve Cuss said: “The lesson touches on both respectful and disrespectful behaviour in everyday life, as well as taking a more in-depth look at the role of respect within sport and football”.
“The Winton pupils were encouraged into discussions and to share ideas, and also received booklets provided by our hugely supportive sponsor Goadsby, which include fun activities and examples of how we can show respect within football. It is a hugely enjoyable and impactful experience for everyone who takes part.”
The pupils later enjoyed a question and answer session with Cook and were asked to design a poster based around respect, which has been entered into a competition.
The CST’s Citizenship and Respect projects have been sponsored by property specialist Goadsby for the last four seasons.
Paul Stewart, managing director of Goadsby (Commercial) said: “Seeing Steve Cuss’ team engage with the children and teach them about respectful behaviour is not only a commendable project, but one which is truly impressive when you witness the children’s attention and enthusiasm for the lesson.”
“We are delighted to continue our sponsorship of the club’s Respect campaign and hope to sponsor it further in the years to come.”