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As part of its programme of community support, Lafarge has given £500 for ‘Step into Sport', a programme run by the Staffordshire Moorlands School Sport Partnership to recruit the best young leaders from across the districts.

Step into Sport forms part of the Government's Physical Education and School Sport for Young People Strategy, with the leadership academy designed to provide high quality support and development for young sports leaders who are committed to actively volunteering in their schools and communities.

As part of the young leader's commitment, they accrue volunteering hours over a 12-month period. Hours can be accumulated from a variety of volunteering experiences for example: coaching, administration, event volunteering, officiating and media/IT in school settings and local sports clubs.

The leaders are rewarded for 50 hours (Bronze Award), 100 hours (Silver), 200 Hours (Gold), 400 hours (Kelly Holmes Double Gold Award).

Assistant partnership development manager from the Staffordshire Moorlands School Sports Partnership, Zoe Harp explains:  "We have had a very successful first year running this academy.  With Lafarge's support we look forward to continuing this success story.

"Lafarge's funding has enabled the academy to pay for young leaders' courses to train pupils in different sports for them to go back into schools and community sports clubs and assist with providing sporting opportunities for younger children. This training is the first step onto the leadership ladder and the School Sports Partnership supports them to become fully qualified sports coaches by running and funding sports coaching courses."

Lafarge's human resources officer Denise Ambrose recently attended an academy meeting where she gave out certificates for those who have already achieved awards.  She comments:  "This is a very successful and popular scheme which we are delighted to be able to support again.  Sport in all its forms is beneficial to young people in many ways and these young people can play an important role in educating even younger children about this."

 To find out more about the Academy please contact Zoe Harp on 01782 514641 / zharp@btconnect.com.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

• Lafarge is the world leader in building materials, with top-ranking positions in all of its businesses: Cement, Aggregates & Concrete and Gypsum. With 78,000 employees in 78 countries, Lafarge posted sales of Euros 15.8 billion in 2009. In 2010 and for the sixth year in a row, Lafarge was listed in the "Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World". With the world's leading building materials research facility, Lafarge places innovation at the heart of its priorities, working for sustainable construction and architectural creativity. Additional information is available on the web site at www.lafarge.com
• Cauldon Works has capacity to make up to one million tonnes of cement a year and distributes it to customers in the Midlands and as far South as the Northern home counties.
• Cauldon Works contributes around £11 million to the local community through, for example, rates and wages, use of local contractors and community donations.
• Lafarge Cement UK is the country's largest cement maker, supplying around 50 per cent of the market.
• The company has six cement works, complemented by a network of depots and terminals around the country.
• Lafarge Cement Cauldon Works is one of only a few local companies to have Gold Membership of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.