KELLY College is working closely with local coaches, local primary schools and the Tavistock Hockey Club to increase access to their match facilities, as well as providing kit and coaching opportunities to many local primary schools.

The college have employed part-time hockey coach and resident tutor, Tom Honey, not only to coach the school teams, but to undertake an 'outreach' hockey coaching programme, which has so far included Tavistock, St Peter's and Whitchurch Primary Schools.

This is giving young pupils the opportunity to learn to play hockey, providing 'Quick Sticks' kit which means they can play on an ordinary playground.

Tavistock Hockey Club has already seen an increase in young people interested in joining the club, since the outreach programme was started at the beginning of this year.

Tom, aged 23, studied his sports science and coaching degree at University of Plymouth, Marjon and, while still playing regularly with Plymouth Hockey Club, he is very keen to increase the accessibility to the sport through these coaching initiatives at Kelly and within the Tavistock Community.

The programme is part of a long term collaboration between Kelly College and Tavistock Hockey Club, who are currently in advanced discussions relating to a new astro pitch facility being built at Kelly Preparatory School.

Dave Anning, club chairman of Tavistock Hockey Club, said: 'This is a really exciting opportunity to make hockey available to as many local people as possible. We have worked with Kelly College for years and look forward to jointly meeting the challenges and opportunities associated with creating a new pitch.

'This project has the potential to be more than just another pitch —managed properly this could make Tavistock a hockey centre of excellence. Two pitches in close proximity would allow tournaments to be held and may result in greater interest and attention from the sport's governing body.'