Magpies Pair Tackle Maths Challenges

Newcastle United pair Emmanuel Riviere and Vurnon Anita have added their support to a community project which is changing the face of family learning on Tyneside.

The players visited Carr Hill Primary School, in Gateshead, with Newcastle United Foundation to meet participants of the Family Football project, which combines adult learning with football to help parents support their children's education.

Orientated around the numeracy techniques being taught in school classrooms, the course is operated by Newcastle United Foundation in partnership with Gateshead Council's family learning team. Using the region's passion for football, it engages families in a free, fun-filled six-week learning programme within local schools and community venues.

Mark Bertram, project coordinator at Newcastle United Foundation, said: "We have been delivering Family Football since 2009 and are very proud to have reached 3,000 families. This year we will deliver more than 50 courses to over 600 families, including 41 people at Carr Hill.

"The players' support is a huge boost to the many programmes like this that the Foundation is involved in across the city every day. The city loves its football and its football club and we are committed to continuing to use that passion positively to help as many people as possible."

United midfielder Vurnon Anita said: "As players, we are very happy to support Newcastle United Foundation and to come out to see projects like this.

"It is very important for us to give something back to the community and it's great to do it in this way."

Family football is funded by the Premier League Community Fund and the Big Lottery's Reaching Communities fund for the next three years.

To find out more about Newcastle United Foundation and how it works with 50,000 young people and their families across the region each year, please visit www.nufoundation.org.uk.