Chess for Schools – Claire Summerscale

I have always loved chess. From the first moment I started to play. People talk of football as the beautiful game, but its how I think of chess. Chess cuts across barriers of age, sex, race and class. It’s a universal sport, a game for all.

Chess develops critical thinking skills, it builds self-esteem and teaches children to think logically and take responsibility for their actions. Most importantly, chess is fun.

Which is why I was so delighted to be at Helenswood School, East Sussex on 31st March 2008,
with Fergus Christie of Holloid Plastics and Michael Foster MP for Hastings and Rye, for the presentation of the first 10 sets in the Chess for Schools Project.

What exactly is the Chess For Schools project?
Duncan Christie helped run his school chess club. One day he came home frustrated because the club relied on children bringing their own sets to school and there had been twenty chess players but only three sets!

The school was unable to provide any more equipment, so Duncan’s father Fergus contacted the English Chess Federation, resulting in the most amazing chess opportunity.

After approaching his boss, Fergus Christie’s company, Holloid Plastics decided that they wanted to offer chess sets to ALL of England’s schools, the biggest chess initiative ever undertaken!

250,000 chess free sets.

10 FREE tournament quality chess sets to every school in England. To receive their free chess sets, all your school has to do, is apply via the Chess for Schools website: www.chessforschools.co.uk

Congratulations to Helenswood School, who were the first school to be presented with this magnificent gift.

Thank you to Holloid Plastics, Fortec Pallet Distribution Network Limited, Renaissance Academy.

Claire Summerscale,
ECF Director of Junior Chess & Education