Boro star Gaizka Mendieta is taking time out from preparations for the club’s UEFA Cup group tie with Egaleo to reward children for their work on one of the club’s prestigious community schemes.
The Spanish midfielder will be presenting certificates and prizes to children who have taken part in a unique literacy course at Boro’s Study Support Centre.
Children from Viewley Hill and Hemlington Hall primary schools – both based in Hemlington, Middlesbrough – have taken part in the four-week Write@theRiverside course.
Based within the Riverside Stadium’s Willie Maddren Centre, Write@theRiverside is an exciting move-making project specially designed by the club’s Study Support team.
Each group involved has been treated to a stimulating programme of classroom sessions, including training in the latest cutting edge movie-making packages for the computer and hands-on field work with digital cameras and camcorders.
For many, the highlight of the course was a visit to Boro’s state-of-the-art training ground at Rockliffe Park, near Darlington. There, the students got to test out their new-found skills and had the opportunity to film a training session before meeting the players.
Martin Hedgley, manager of the Study Support Centre, said: “The finished movies have gone beyond everyone’s hopes and dreams. The high quality, professional video montages are cracking pieces of contemporary art from the heart of the community.”