Barrow AFC encouraged schoolkids to get involved in football by running sessions for children aged five to 11 during half-term at Furness College.

The sessions were run by the club’s community trust, in an effort to inspire children to enjoy the sport and keep fit and healthy through their time off school.

Two sessions ran every day, depending on the child’s ability.

Coach Brad Hubbold said: “It is very important that the kids enjoy it and so far we have had brilliant feedback from the kids saying that they are enjoying it.”

Each session was split into three groups: the Mini Squad, for children aged between five and six, All Stars, for children aged between seven and nine and Hot Shots, for ages ten and over.

Hubbold said despite the bad weather, they still managed to play outside on the college’s 3G pitch and there was a positive mix of both boys and girls attending.

With the Women’s World Cup coming up, he said: “The girls have got just as involved as the boys and it’s great to see such positive numbers.”

AFC’s Community Trust is a not-for-profit company, set up with the aim of using sport and physical activity to help social and economic development of individuals and groups in the area.

They do this by operating a range of innovative projects, schemes and initiatives supporting education, health, social inclusion and sports participation.

Their programmes include extensive work in schools, partnerships with local charities and organisations; support to government initiatives promoting health and well-being and sessions targeted at groups with disabilities or reducing anti-social behaviour.

They work closely with the football club to encourage engagement with the local community.

Barrow AFC will be holding a similar holiday course for five weeks over the summer.