Academy to hire out its sports and arts facilities

A Wearside school is offering local community groups the chance to hire out its sports and performing arts facilities on evenings, weekends and during school holidays.

Washington Academy has teamedupwithSchoolLettings Solutions(SLS)tomanageitsfacilitiesandprovideleisurevenues for various activities, such as fitness classes, dance workshops and craft groups.

The academy will play host to activities, such as football and dance classes. Local groups can hire its facilities, which include a sports hall, main hall, dance studio and a drama studio, for regular classes or ad hoc events.

Dr Mike Beverley, principal at Washington Academy, said: “We’re really excited to be opening up the academy to the widercommunity.We’reproud ofthefacilitiesweofferourstudents, such as our sports hall and dance studio, and it makes sense to us that they are availabletouseduringeveningsand weekends as well.

“We’ve already got some great partners signed up to use ourfacilities,suchasWashington Youth FC Under 16’s, and we’relookingforwardtogetting moreonboard.Thiscanonlybe apositivethingforourstudents and people in the area.”

Jackie Latu, managing director of SLS, said: ““There is huge potential to provide more places like this for people of all ages to come together, which will be really positive for the area. At the same time, our partnerships provide a new stream of income for schools as their budgets come under more and more pressure.”

To enquire about the facilities that are on offer, call 0191 336 1799 or email washington@schoollettings.org. For more information or to book facilitiesatWashingtonAcademy, visit https://washington. schoolbookings.co.uk.