Heike Palmer and Joshua Smith have helped to inspire almost 500 children from 17 schools at a special archery tournament in Birmingham.
The Archery Ambassadors played a vital role at the SEND Tournament for pupils with a wide variety of special needs. The aim was for everyone to enjoy the event, so they coached the entrants, showed them how to hold the bow, aim and shoot safely and won praise for their skill, passion, patience and compassion.
Archery GB mentor Maxine Palmer said: Â"I was extremely proud of both Josh (an old hand at this type of event in his role as Birmingham Sports Ambassador) and Heike in her first event. They were confident despite there being 500 children and lots on teachers in attendance and did not stop smiling although it was a long and tiring day.
Â"What was most rewarding was seeing how the children coached by our Young Ambassadors in the morning session went on to help one another in the afternoon, guiding and coaching one another. Teachers remarked how they had struggled to get one young lady to verbally communicate but in this environment she was standing on the line and actively talking to and coaching her school colleagues.”
And the icing on the cake for Josh? Not only did the Ambassadors award medals after an inter-schools competition, the gold medal went to Timberley Academy - the after-school archery club that Josh helped to set up!
