OVER 200 school children from East London schools recently attended the Lloyd's Football Community Cup at Ive Farm in Leyton as part of the Lloyd's Community Programme which works to improve the opportunities and environment for the community of East London.

In conjunction with Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme (LOCSP) the day was a great success for all those present in the sunshine.

To ensure the children were prepared for the tournament, 24 volunteers from companies in the Lloyd's market volunteered to provide football coaching at the East London schools prior to the event.

The keen volunteers also helped out on the day by providing coaching tips and referring the matches.

For volunteer Guy Sorce, Assistant Compliance Officer from the Hardy Underwriting Group this is the third year running he has been involved.

"The day was a great success and my school did very well," he explained. "The turn-out was great and the games were played in a positive spirit. My team produced a great celebration which involved them lying down on the floor and wiggling their legs in the air. The standard has improved in the three years I have been working on the project.

"This gives all the staff connected to Lloyds an opportunity to give something back to the local community and it is very rewarding - it also means we can get out of the office!

"Joking aside, the day has been fantastic and we are all looking forward to it next year."

Vincent Davidson, Risk Analyst, Lloyds said:
"I have been looking after teams today, getting them organised and warmed up. Football is a big passion of mine so to combine it with volunteering is really rewarding.

"It makes it worthwhile when you see the kids' faces as some pupils in the schools don't really get chance to do things like this.

"The fact that one of the smaller professional clubs in London gets involved in something like this really makes a difference and we are all looking forward to it next year.

The results on the day saw a double success for Hackney as Sebright School won the girls' tournament and Holmleigh School won the boys' tournament who both went home with a trophy each and medals. The Fairplay award for girls went to Ben Johnson School and Stewart Headlam for boys, both from Tower Hamlets who took away a set of sports equipment.
Natalie Tickle, Community Affairs Executive, Lloyds said:

"Today has been a fantastic day with everyone involved really enjoying themselves.

"About 25 of our staff have volunteered to be here today and its great come here and have everything already organised by the guys at LOCSP, who have been excellent and done a really good job.

"This tournament today is a culmination of a six-week football course that we have been running through schools in the boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Hackney as part of our community programme to offer sporting opportunities to young people.

"Volunteers from across the Lloyds markets have gone into these schools to help coach football and then come here with them today for tournament.

"It's a great opportunity for our office staff to get out and about and support our local and neighbouring communities - it is very rewarding for our staff and practically supporting our community not just through donations but giving time and help.

"We've heard really good things about all the young people today, so we're all very pleased."

After the tournament, the Lloyds volunteers took part in an impromptu football match with members of LOCSP.

For more information about LOCSP or the Lloyds Community Programme, please contact the LOCSP office on 020 8556 5973 or email: enquiries@locsp.org