This season, Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club (AHC) has been working with local Scouting groups and in local schools in Stanwell and Ashford to deliver hockey sessions as part of a new community outreach initiative funded by London Hockey.

The programme, launched by London Hockey in the autumn of 2023, is in line with England Hockey’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) framework. AHC was subsequently successful in applying for funding to deliver fantastic hockey sessions, reaching children whose previous exposure to hockey was limited or non-existent.

Projects like this are vital to grow our sport and engage children in areas like ours where hockey is rarely, if at all, taught in schools.

Junior Co-ordinator Peter Cottrell said:

“We are attracting a core of children at these schools who love hockey. Most of these children are new to hockey but I can see that they have a lot of potential. It is an exciting time for the junior section at Ashford with these successful outreach activities mirroring success for our existing juniors on the pitch this season across all age groups. We are hopeful that our community engagement work will bring new children from diverse backgrounds into our great hockey club and help us build for a resilient future.”

Some facts and figures to date:

11 community schools/Scouting groups reached.
Over 500 children have attended AHC outreach hockey sessions this season.
3 schools get hockey after-school clubs for the first time.

The project received coverage recently in The Hockey Paper. Click here.