Playing for Success

Playing for Success is delivered from the Villan Learning Zone (VLZ) within Villa Park. Students at the centre get up to speed in the key skills of literacy, numeracy and ICT - the foundation stones of education.

Children have left Villa Park with improved skills, motivation and self-esteem, giving them a real boost and, in many cases, a new start on which they can build back at school.

The VLZ has been open since October 2003 and has been housed in the Doug Ellis Stand since September 2004. The centre is to be refurbished this summer will also have a new computer network installed.

The centre can deliver a wide range of courses and has the facilities to produce and edit digital films and their own professional radio studio to enable all pupils to produce their own shows. The centre has its own You Tube site to showcase the films made by the pupils called the 'villanlearningzone'.

Jonathon Aldred is the centre manager but he works alongside a high quality band of staff who work hard to make the VLZ a success.

The VLZ works with 300 pupils per year from eight primary and secondary schools. The pupils attend once a week for three and a quarter hours over a six week period.

At the end of each course, the children attend a celebration evening. It is held in the Holte Suite at Villa Park and each pupil receives an award from an Aston Villa first teamer.

Healthy Living Project - Villa Vitality and Ice Gym

Kids in Birmingham are learning more about food and how to lead a healthier lifestyle, thanks to Villa Vitality.

The scheme is run by the club in partnership with the Heart of Birmingham Teaching Primary Care Trust.

The programme, which has run since November 2005, aims to encourage young people (school years six and seven) to get involved with sport and to appreciate the importance of eating healthily.

The pupils are split into two groups to do different activities - and the groups swap over in the afternoon.

The first group sit in the club's Learning Zone and discover amazing facts - like how many teaspoons of sugar are in their favourite drink or snack.

Then it's time to do a bit of research on the internet - they have to find out three healthy facts.

Then the pupils make a radio programme in The Villan studio and record it!

After lunch, they take part in football-based activities in the Indoor Academy. After some jogging, some sidesteps and some dribbling with the ball, it's time for a quiz.

Then, the class splits into three teams for a football tournament. It's all good fun and very informative.

Head of Community Duncan Riddle said: "It's a very important programme because it teaches kids about healthy eating and sport. They learn important lessons for a healthier life in the future."

* The Villa Vitality project is complemented by the new Ice Gym, opened by Thomas Sorensen and Craig Gardner.

Unique in its position within a Premier League football ground, the youth gym is designed to be used by eight-16 year olds.

It provides a valuable addition to the ongoing 'Villa Vitality' campaign, which targets the reduction of childhood obesity in the Aston ward and wider Ladywood district and is committed to promoting the importance of healthy eating and exercise, for youngsters in the area.

The brainchild of the CIC and the NHS Primary Care Trust (PCT), the gym is a supervised area. Through the PCT, school and practice nurses, local schools, doctors practices and school dieticians will be able to prescribe exercise to overweight or obese children who will then be referred to the youth gym.