Akeem Edwards and Natasha Lucien are the proud directors of the Jump Starters TC, established in 2014. Jump Starters is a trampoline club, currently based within a specialised Sports Academy (Capital City Academy), homing two full-sized, professional trampolines. Both Akeem and Natasha work within a local Brent Primary School and between them have an extensive knowledge of PE & Sports (Primary and
Secondary), Teaching and Learning and Childcare. With recent studies showing that 35% of the borough’s families are living in poverty (according to research done by ‘End Child Poverty’, which maps out the extent of financial hardship in the UK), it is quite apparent that extracurricular trampoline clubs are on the decline and becoming a luxury for children to partake in. Many people in the Brent community have never had the opportunity to jump on a professional trampoline. Being a level 2 qualified teacher in trampoline for some years, Akeem had a vision that he wanted to come to fruition. So, hand in hand, he and his business partner, Natasha, decided to make it their mission to give children and adults alike, of all walks of life, the opportunity to experience this innovative, recreational sport. Trampoline is not just a fun-filled sport, but it is also a sport that encourages confidence and wellbeing. Trampoline is amazing for motor skills, muscle development, improving balance, strengthening bones and reinforcing joints. With camps beginning in the summer of 2015 and six successful camps to date, we provide structured sports and activities based play scheme during holiday periods. Our aim is to support the community by making fees affordable for parents who may have financial restraints and do not necessarily have the means to place their children in typical childcare during the holidays. In addition to trampoline, we also provide basketball, football, gymnastics, street dance, multi-sports, drama and an academic back to school booster program that aims to prepare children for the school term ahead. We are planning to add martial arts as part of our camp program. Qualified coaches and teachers run all of our classes. Jumps Starters TC also offers an extensive work experience program, working alongside colleges and schools to offer young people much-needed work experience. We found that our program worked extremely well in collaboration with The Duke of Edinburgh Award and the sport leadership awards course (JSLA,CSLA), which some of our young sports leaders and volunteers are currently studying at school and college. We have had an exceptional amount of support and positive, welcoming feedback from the community and parents.
