Pupils from two local schools paid a visit to Rockliffe Park as part of a community engagement project led by youngsters from Boro's Academy.
Our young footballers pioneered the Teesside Trailblazers project, using their own experience of recognising and tackling social injustice as a team to inspire other young people to take on racism in their school and communities.
The response was fantastic, with 34 schools and approximately 3,200 young people taking part in a summit where they were challenged to devise their own class charter to create positive change. More than 80% of the teachers who entered their class for the Teesside Trailblazers celebration day said it was their first involvement in a social action project, and every one of them said they would happily do so again having seen such an engaged response from their pupils.
Classes from Darlington primary school Reid Street and Yarm-based secondary school Conyers were selected as particular standouts for their contribution to the day, and invited to visit Rockliffe, where Boro's Under-18s laid on a fun-filled day of physical and technical challenges and activities as well as a tour of the training ground learning about all the different departments that support Academy and senior players.
Teesside Traliblazers was organised in conjunction with Big Ideas, and been funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, DCMS, The Virgin Money Foundation and the #iwill campaign, which support young people’s access to high quality social action opportunities.