Celebrating our 30,000 Schools Ice Skater!

We celebrated our 30,000^th Schools Ice Skater this month when Cairo aged 6 from Carlton Central Infant Academy was given a huge surprise during a school assembly as our milestone schools programme skater.

The award-winning Schools Ice Skating Programme, now in its 12th year, has engaged over 30,000 local children to learn to skate on the 6 week course. Rewarded with his very own pair of ice skates, skate guards and bag as well as more access to our learn to skate programme, Cairo will also have the opportunity to treat his family and friends with some regular ice skating passes for them all to enjoy!

Matt Bradbury, Sports Development Officer, presented Cairo on the day with his surprise and said “Over the years the programme has reached out to schools within the Nottingham City, into the County and further afield into Derbyshire and Leicestershire and really offered children in the East Midlands access to a sporting activity that they may never have tried before.”

“By learning to ice skate children can feel and see themselves improving and growing in confidence thereby fulfilling the wider wellbeing outcomes, relationship building, character development and resilience.”

“We’ve seen so many children take to the ice and become regular skaters, joining ice skating clubs and ice hockey teams – the programme has been running that long now that we’ve even employed some children that have skated on our programme!”

Anna Spencer, Headteacher said “We have been part of the schools ice skating programme at the National Ice Centre for nine years now and I would encourage any schools that haven’t given it a try yet should really consider this programme.”

“The impact that skating has on the children is amazing to see, they are so excited each week and talk so much in school about how they can now ice skate.”

”The award for Cairo is fantastic and we really look forward to seeing him develop his new found skill outside of school with his family and friends.”

At The National Ice Centre we have several ice skating programmes designed to encourage school children to try something new, all available at subsidised rates, including – 6 Week learn to skate programme, Skate With The Nottingham Panthers, one-off skating sessions at Christmas and at the end of the academic year and rewards and incentive opportunities.

To learn more about our Schools Ice Skating Programme or to book a skating session for a school group, call our Sports Development Officer on 0115 853 3064 or email [email protected].