23 January 2012
We couldn’t be happier for Nick Wood and Darren Taxis who have been voted Student and Teacher of
the Year 2011 respectively by Sky Sports Living for Sports (LFS). They were both honoured at a
ceremony held recently at Wembley Stadium, attended by regional winners as well as the programme’s
Sports Ambassador Darren Campbell and Sky Sports presenter Kirsty Gallacher.
Sixteen-year-old Nick, a student at Lancaster school in Leicester, was honoured for his
transformation from troublesome, truant teen to activity leader and role model to younger children,
inspired by his introduction to boxing through Sky Sports LFS.
Nick turned his life around after boxer and athlete mentor Dermot Gascoyne noticed his potential
during a visit to his school. The former heavyweight champion’s attention encouraged Nick’s effort
inside the gym and helped him to improve his schoolwork too.
Darren Taxis was honoured for his tireless work at the Phoenix School in Grantham, Lincolnshire.
He has organised a football programme for secondary school-age children, as well as after-school
archery, street dance and badminton activities.
Sky Sports Living for Sport (LFS) uses sport to help young people overcome limiting beliefs and
behaviours stemming from such issues as emotional difficulties and disengagement from the school
system. It matches projects to sports stars, who act as athlete mentors, inspiring young people
with personal stories and sporting tips. It’s an initiative we’ve undertaken jointly with the
Youth Sport Trust for the past nine years.
Commenting on the awards, Darren Campbell said: “Going into schools, I’ve seen for myself how
much of an impact Sky Sports Living for Sport is having. It’s incredible to watch how pupils’
attitudes can shift and how belief in themselves and their abilities can be transformed.”
If you’d like to set up a Living for Sport project, visit the
programme’s website for
information.
