Alive and Kicking Visually Impaired Football Tournament 2024

‘Leave no-one behind’ is Mr Henry Wanyoike’s message - and indeed that was seen in action last Saturday at Braeburn School. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the charity Alive and Kicking, we hosted a football tournament in which each game was played both sighted and blind-folded. As one player put it - “I have new found respect.” Corporate teams sponsored the event by paying to compete, and we are happy to report that the Braeburn Team were victorious!

In the first 10 minutes of each game - we saw well-matched teams is fine form, with goals a plenty, but nothing could beat those (fewer) goals scored when the blind-folded players, directed by their goal-keeper, “move forward, go right, go left, shoot, shoot” and they did, and yes, they scored! Goal of the tournament has to be from our very own Emiline in Year 13 as part of the student team, and the most valuable female player? Our very own Lotte Lohr!

Our wonderful Sixth Form also planned and ran several events during the day to show the challenges and opportunities activities for the visually impaired, with yoga, tug of war, art activities and believe it or not, a guided obstacle course - complete with an egg and spoon race! Thanks to everyone involved, we raised money to train teachers to facilitate sporting events for the visually impaired, we came together as a community, we raised awareness - and we had fun! Watch this space - there’s more to come from the Alive & Kicking/Braeburn collaboration.

Liz Borwell

Headteacher