Blackpool FC Community Trust, with backing from Simon Sadler and Segantii Capital Management (“Segantii”) will be supporting Year 6 pupils with a brand new programme called Unstoppable.
The programme has been developed using bestselling author Dan Freedman’s new book, which focuses on supporting young people with difficult life topics, including mental health, knife crime, family dynamics and the transition to high school.
Using the book, Blackpool children will read up to certain points each week and then be led through a classroom session by the Trust, discussing these hard hitting topics. The children will then get to keep the book and workbooks they develop through their involvement, to refer back to when they are challenged in their daily lives.
Every school in Blackpool will be offered this programme free of charge and delivery will take place over 6 weeks, thanks to the financial support worth £50,000 from Segantii.
Chief Executive Officer of Blackpool FC Community Trust, Ashley Hackett said “This is a very important and ground breaking programme that our team have developed and we thank Simon and Segantii for their unbelievable support. As soon as I discussed the programme with Simon he was fully committed to helping with putting this in place. We piloted the programme in Westminster Primary Academy last academic year and the impact it had was tremendous and we knew straight away we had to find a way to get this provision to as many children in Blackpool as possible. The programme will now be offered to every Year 6 child, in every Blackpool school. We also have to thank Chris Debar and Jen Crofts, from my team for developing this amazing provision and Dan Freedman, for his continuous support, creativity and for allowing us to utilise his book in such a way.”
Simon Sadler, Chief Investment Officer of Segantii, said “Segantii is very pleased to support Blackpool FC Community Trust in this important initiative to help the young people of Blackpool. I would like to thank Ashley and his team for putting this together and the participating schools for their commitment to the programme.
Dan Freedman, Best selling author of Unstoppable, said “I spend a lot of time working with schools and that leap to Secondary is such a huge one at a pivotal time in a young person’s life. How they adapt and develop at that point can have a huge impact on the rest of their lives and also on the wider community.
“I wrote Unstoppable in the hope that, as well as being a compelling story, it might offer a platform for young people to talk about their feelings and their challenges so I’m absolutely delighted that the Blackpool FC Community Trust are taking the book and running with it in this way.
“Every time I have met and worked with Ashley, Chris and Jen I have been blown away by their dedication and professionalism. That’s why I’m sure the Unstoppable project is going to be truly ground-breaking. It’s incredible what a community team like this – with the wonderful support of Simon Sadler and Segantii – are able to do for the area and its effect will be felt for years to come.”
The provision will start in November 2019 and take place throughout the school year.
