NUFC.co.uk

Shear joy for school

30th September 2009

NEWCASTLE United striker Alan Shearer was the special guest at Ryton Comprehensive School on Thursday, September 29 where he performed the Naming Ceremony of the Schools' new Sports Hall. This was an important moment in its development and it will be opened formally at a later date.

The new 4 court Sports Hall, costing £1.4m, was completed in June 2005 and compliments the schools existing oversubscribed sports hall facilities.

The majority of the funding came from the Big Lottery Fund, with other contributions from Gateshead Council and the school itself.

The new facility, constructed by Gateshead Council, Design Services and Local Environmental Services, comprises the sports hall, associated changing rooms for 60 people, main entrance lobby including reception, seating and vending area, (permitting viewing of activities within the hall) and a community/meeting room. Disabled facilities are also included.

The facilities provide for 1,300 students during curriculum time and are available to the wider community seven days per week, all year round.

Councillor Catherine Donovan, cabinet member for children and young people at Gateshead Council said:"This new facility enables every school pupil at Ryton to enjoy at least two hours of PE at school each week.

"It also offers an extensive programme of community activities, building links between the school and the local community, encouraging healthy lifestyles and tackling issues of obesity."

And Alan Shearer added: "I was mightily impressed with the Sports Hall. It creates a healthy lifestyle for school children and I wish I had had this type of facility in my youth!

"We are all very grateful to the Big Lottery Fund for providing the majority of the funding and great credit is due to Gateshead Council as well for putting the whole scheme together."