International Inspiration aims to deliver on the Games’ bid promise to ‘reach young people all over the world and connect them to the inspirational power of the Games, so they are inspired to choose sport’. Working in countries all over the world, International Inspiration aims to use sport as a positive force to enrich the lives of over 12 million young people.

Megan will be travelling to Tanzania in 3 weeks time to spend time in training local people so that they have the skills and knowledge necessary to run volleyball programmes in their own communities and to inspire people to do something positive through sport.

No doubt Megan will have an amazing time and is sure to get as many people loving the sport in Africa as she has already in Warrington!  We wish her all the best and hope she’ll come back with plenty of pictures and information to share with us.

Read more about the International Inspiration project here

Rosie now referees on a weekly basis for the Junior League, Sport 4 All Centre and was also recently selected to be part of a Super Star programme for Volleyball England, in which she travelled to Kettering and was part of a referee’s team for the Inter Regional Championships. Over the weekend Rosie refereed the girls under 14 final and was presented with a medal for her outstanding achievement. With all of her fantastic achievements to date, this now puts her in a good position to be selected as part of the UK School Games Referee team.

Very well done Rosie!

For the past two years, due to the hard work of Bridgewater Diamonds Volleyball Club at the Centre, Bridgewater Diamonds, Wigan Volleyball Club and the young leaders and coaches who work with Megan Hopkins on the Junior programme, it has given Volleyball the foundations of opportunity for growth of all age groups.

The addition of the three new Volleyball courts will give the opportunity for adults, as well as children, who are new to sport to give it a try and also play competively for the North West region if they wish too.

For more information regarding The Bridgewater Diamonds Volleyball Club, please contact Paul Bedworth ~ 07966-476-808

For more information regarding the Junior Programme with the schools and colleges, please contact Megan Hopkins ~ 07932-078-745

They defeated Macclesfield High in the inaugural finals staged at Birchwood High School.

The girls reached the final by topping first in Group A and then in the semi finals defeating their B team, who had finished second in Group A.

Birchwood’s under 15s boys missed out on the final, which was won by Sandbach’s Shavington High School.

The A team came through the group stages in top spot but lost to Macclesfield’s Fallibroome in the semi finals.

Birchwood’s B team was fourth in Group A and seventh in the play-offs after a win against Weaverham B.

All 16 teams qualified from district competitions and the event was organised and co-ordinated by Megan Hopkins from Volleyball England.

The Girls’ Volleyball Competition was won by Birchwood High School, whose teams were thoroughly deserving of first and second places.  However, it was fantastic to see girls taking part in the competition who previously had never had the opportunity to represent their school.  The ‘Most Valued Player’ Award, following a vote by all the teams present, went to a Antonia Lewis from St. Gregory’s.

We are sure that the Boys’ competition, which will take place in December, will be equally successful.

Thanks to the work of Megan and the staff at various High schools, including the SSCos, Volleyball is fast becoming a new craze.  Several schools have put the sport on their curriculum, teachers have been upskilled, sports leaders trained and are starting to share the sport with local primary children, after school clubs are being established and run by the students themselves, and an increasing number of young people are now showing interest in taking part in volleyball activity beyond the school.

The success of this sport development work, and the impact on young people, has only been possible thanks to the collaboration between Warrington School Sport Partnership, Volleyball England, and the Sport for All Centre, who have aligned funding and priorities in order to secure a post for a Volleyball Development Coach.

Well done to Megan for her hard work, and thanks to all the school staff and students who have supported these succeses so far.

Most valued Player

Birchwood Take Home the Gongs