A SCHEME to help children improve in the classroom as well as on the football pitch began this week.

Sunderland Football Club has teamed up with 15 schools in the Deerness Valley to launch a weekly programme of educational and sporting activities.

It is hoped the interest in football will provide the stimulus to bring spin-offs in the classroom for up to 200 youngsters involved in the project.

Black Cats' defender and midfielder Darren Williams attended the first session, at Deerness Comprehensive School, in Ushaw Moor.

The project is being overseen by SAFCommunity, part of the SAFC Foundation, the club's registered charity.

It follows an approach by Ushaw Moor Community Association, which identified the need for youngsters to develop social and sporting skills. SAFCommunity coaches Billy Horn and Mick Shead have been taken on by the association to provide free coaching during school time at the 15 primary schools in Deerness Valley villages.

They include schools at Brandon, Ushaw Moor, Bearpark, New Brancepeth, Esh Winning, Hamsteels and Nevilles Cross.

A two-day football school is also being held for boys and girls aged from four to 14.

A Family Learning through Football course will run for ten weeks starting next month.