Many of our students at Northgate take part in sporting activities outside of school. There is plenty in the local area they can do from football and rugby clubs, to going to the gym, swimming and martial arts.
Mirren, Year 10, and a Northgate News Team member, tells us about her passion for badminton.
‘After school, on a Thursday, I go to a badminton club at Dereham Leisure Centre. It is for children aged 8 – 14 and runs from 16:00 – 17:30. It also costs around £28 per term (7 – 8 weeks). I really enjoy it and I am looking to become a junior coach at the club. I joined the club May 2021 without ever picking up a badminton racket in my life and our coaches helped me all the way through my badminton journey. People within the club have achieved so much. A few of us have qualified with a junior coaching certificate. Some of us play for Norfolk County and travel all across the county for different games and a few of us help out with badminton here at Northgate! Our main coach, Julie, is very sweet and welcoming. Me and my friend, in Year 9, always walk to badminton and we have a laugh at the club while also learning new things as we go.
‘Recently, I have been looking at other club opportunities so I can not only just coach at the junior club, but then also play with other people as well of all different ages. There is a club on a Tuesday from 9:30 – 11:00 and that club is very cool! It is open to people of all ages and is a bit more on the competitive side. That is run by Charlie, also at Dereham Leisure Centre, who is also a coach at the junior club. He has however taken a step back from that and is focusing more on the other clubs he runs such as another club on a Thursday. That one is for 18 years old and older. It runs from 19:30 – 21:00, also at Dereham Leisure Centre. Both of these clubs are £3.80 a session. If you are interested, reach out to the team at Dereham Leisure Centre and they will be happy to tell you more about the club and the people involved in making it happen.’
‘Badminton is a really great and fun sport if you are looking to try something active, competitive but also maybe just having fun with your friends in a game of sport. Maybe this sport is for you!’