The TSI World Bees are delighted to confirm the return of its successful Schools programme ahead of the 2021/22 NIHL National season.

After seeing some great success in the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons, we are thrilled that the schools programme will be continuing in our new home in Slough. With over 90 schools and clubs signed up in previous seasons, it was great to welcome the next generation of fans into our sport and to be able for coach Sheppard and a number of players to interact with children at their schools.

With the move to Slough, and the lower capacity, there will be some changes from previous seasons, but there will still be some great offers and opportunities for all schools who sign up. 

We today also launch a fantastic competition in partnership with our title sponsors TSI World, long term sponsor AVSS and operators of our new home, Everyone Active. Schools that sign up before 12:00 on the 2nd July 2021 can be entered into a competition to win an Optoma 75” Interactive Touch Screen Panel plus installation for their school plus prizes for the PTA such as Everyone Active skating vouchers, climbing vouchers and parties!

The Schools programme will also merge with the community team to form the ‘Community and Schools programme’. The Community team have previously run activities at local events across the county over the past couple of years and have helped spread the word about the Bees and ice hockey in general.

The community group have worked tirelessly for the past year forging some fantastic partnerships, sourcing grants and purchasing some amazing activities for kids (and adults!) to get involved in – a whole new setup is sitting awaiting the first event of the year and we can’t wait for you to try them! One major addition is down to a newly forged partnership with Sense Arena. Schools being visited and community participants will be able to step into a virtual reality arena and see if they have what it takes to be a goalie.

The Schools programme have also been working hard creating lesson plans, assembly presentations and helping encourage new participants in the sport through the First Shift hockey sessions. By merging these two programmes together, it allows greater opportunities for our players, coaches and volunteers to able to get out and help to get kids active in sport as well as delivering lessons in physical and mental well-being in both a classroom and a community setting.

The new Community and Schools Programme will be looking to really make a difference in our local community and we hope the Bee Army will be able to help us in creating a buzz about ice hockey! They will be running fundraising events and bringing activities along to selected match nights and will have more details about how you can get involved soon.

On the continuation and merging of the programmes, TSI World Bees’ director of hockey Doug Sheppard said:

“To have these programmes continuing in our new home as we head towards the 2021/2022 season is fantastic news for both the club and local community. Having visited schools and been present at local community events and seen the kids take up the sport off the back of this, it was vital we were able to continue this offering to our community.

The move to Slough means we have an even wider community base now as we build on the foundations set in Bracknell in previous seasons. The merging of the programmes will help to make sure we are able to offer the programme to more people for the upcoming season and beyond”

Dave Williams from the Community and Schools programme adds:

“The last 18 months have been challenging for everyone but as the new world starts to open up, we are excited to get back into Schools in a Covid secure way. Moving over to Slough, allows us spread the word further across Berkshire. Like all Schools we have been working hard over the lockdowns and are pleased to be able to offer a re-energised Programme with new a exciting options.

Be it in Schools, in the Community or First Shift, we want to get more children being active in a healthy and safe environment, where they can try a new sport and most of all-have fun.”