Halcyon Heroes

'A third of pupils leaving primary school are overweight or obese...'

Child obesity is a major risk factor for an array of health conditions in later life, including several types of dementia.

Great initiative by Sport England to boost school PE - very much in line with Halcyon Heroes's mission.

Sport England launches £13.5m drive to boost secondary school PE Scheme will train 17,000 teachers as part of effort to improve sports lessons

Perfect weather for the first match day of the season. All 6 Aspire FC teams playing at home, all 75 players proudly wearing their brand new football kit and giving it their all.
Aspiring Halcyon Heroes!

Impressive season kick-off meeting at Aspire FC. Circa 75 kids listened attentively to the club's rules & regulations, their respective team's new tactical plan, as well as the introduction of the Halcyon Heroes Award.

But the highlight of the meeting was, obviously, the new kit: instantly put on, shown off and tried out 😎

Well played Aspire FC!

WORLD'S FIRST youth achievement award centred around the topic of dementia - kids receive dementia training, visit care homes, and are encouraged to keep active with a view of reducing their own risk in later life.

SNEAK PREVIEW of the Halcyon Heroes Award's very first sports kit - official launch in Fulham, UK, on Monday!

This season's Halcyon Heroes will be gracing the pitch for Aspire FC in a stunning navy and orange kit

Halcyon Heroes are thrilled to roll out the first award programme (pilot) with grassroots football club Aspire FC from Fulham. We are grateful to Stephen Adams, the other coaches, the parents and the young players of the club for welcoming and embracing this initiative. We have no doubt the kids will develop with leaps and bounds this season, both as football players and as human beings!

“It’s a lovely awakening. And not only do you have the benefit of having these lovely children—and they really are—but they can teach us something, and hopefully we can give them a bit of knowledge too.”

Fay Garcia, 90, resident of Nightingale House in South London
Interviewed by the Independent – 25 March 2018

HALCYON HERO OF THE YEAR —
Each participating organisation may, at the end of the award programme, choose a Halcyon Hero of the Year. This accolade is awarded to children who have made an exceptional contribution to the Halcyon Heroes Award.
All Halcyon Heroes of the Year (one from each organisation) receive a special prize.

KEEN KIDS —
Children whose school or sports club joins Halcyon Heroes™ may partake in the inspiring activities offered by the award. The programme is short but intense, and will give keen children, ranging from 6 to 16 years old, a formative learning experience they’ll carry with them the rest of their lives.

Upon completion of the programme, children will receive an award certificate and the honourable status of ‘Halcyon Hero’.

PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS —
Organisations working with children such as schools and grassroots sports clubs may apply to Halcyon Heroes™ on behalf of the children they work with. Joining the award programme is free, but the organisation is expected to help out with some voluntary tasks.

OUR PURPOSE —
For children to be positively prepared for the inevitable confrontation with ageing and dementia — by developing their knowledge, confidence and empathy.

“The Halcyon Heroes Award is something all of us at Aspire FC are incredibly proud to be associated with. Our players learn about dementia, it’s causes and effects, and their eyes are opened about the preventative benefits of keeping active.

This goes far beyond the initial aim of the club, but taking social responsibility within the local community now underpins everything we do. Halcyon Heroes embodies this ethos, and we are delighted to be part of it.

I have no doubt that the knowledge gained by our players—and some of their parents—will have a lifelong impact.”

Stephen Adams
Principal Co-Ordinator Aspire FC
(Halcyon Heroes™ pilot)