Students with learning disabilities from Tyne Met College were celebrating their success recently after their 5-a-side football team won a tournament for colleges in the northeast of England.
The tournament, organised by a group of student volunteers from Sunderland College, was held as part of its Together Activity Group (TAG) project, which aims to get students with learning difficulties and disabilities into sport and to take part in group activities.
As well as Tyne Met and Sunderland, other colleges taking part included East Durham College and Newcastle College.
In the final, Tyne Met College beat Sunderland College C 3-1. Tyne Met will now go on to represent the northeast colleges at the BCS (British Colleges Sport) nationals in Bath.
Sunderland College project coordinator Rachael Smales, who helps the students to organise TAG projects, said the football tournament was a huge success.
“Many of the students taking part have not got involved in organised sporting activities before,” she said. “They all really enjoyed the experience and it is great the other colleges from across the region are willing to get involved for the benefit of their students.
“We try to give our students the best college experience possible no matter what their interests or attainment level.”
Sunderland College student volunteers have also organised Zumba classes, breakfast clubs and gym sessions recently.
Former Sunderland College student Konnor McCully is a TAG project volunteer who became involved through Durham FA’s Football Foundation Programme.
“The whole day [was] fantastic, it could not have gone better,” he said. “I love volunteering with the TAG Project, it is fun, exciting, and great teaching the students skills within football, I have learnt a lot too. Hopefully it can become a regular occurrence.”
