Cannock school get handy sponsorship
Girls at Cannock's Cardinal Griffin School are getting to grips with the sport of handball thanks to a £25,000 sponsorship deal.
Chasetown-based housing company Cameron Homes last year teamed up with Score UK in an attempt to promote the sport – one of the top three female participation sports in the world – in the region.
Cardinal Griffin was one of several schools included in the three-year funding deal which allows schools free access to coaching and enables clubs to be set up, with the intention of providing a pathway to elite handball.
Pupils have also received free sports kit and match balls, as well as certificates.
Cameron Homes managing director Ian Burns said: "We are pleased to see that more and more girls are taking up handball as a sport.
"Cameron are delighted to support the programme and provide on-going opportunities for an often under-represented group within our community."
The initiative has been driven by Sport England's desire to engage more girls into regular physical activity and a growing momentum behind handball since the 2012 Olympics.
Nenad Popovic, of Score UK, which promotes the sport, said: "This is a wonderful opportunity and we are seeing handball grow in popularity.
"With the region providing the current Under-16 National County champions and the Under-15 Schools' champions for girls there is a growing interest in the sport at every level.
"The funding provides a tremendous platform upon which to build for the future of handball."
