Schools expert who has shared stage with Barack Obama to speak at 'unique' Chesterfield event

Richard Gerver, who has shared a stage with the likes of US president Barack Obama and was an advisor to the Tony Blair Government, is backing the pioneering work of Qualitas – a sports organisation that delivers coaching in schools across north Derbyshire and South Yorkshire.

It has been revealed Richard will be the keynote speaker at their forthcoming Sport Summit event at the Winding Wheel in Chesterfield on September 10.

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He said: “The power of sport in the Covid-19 healing process is there for all to see as the re-starting of the Premier League galvanises a generation.

“But sport is absolutely fundamental for school kids. It has never, ever been as important as it is at this unique point in time.

“And that’s going to be my message for Chesterfield – sport has the power to re-connect and restore a kids’ purpose in life.”

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Richard is also known as an award-winning speaker and author who has shared a number of tips on homeschooling during the pandemic.

Qualitas Sport describe themselves as ‘a young, innovative team who pride themselves on the provision of a fresh and exciting approach towards sports education and literacy’.

The company’s managing director Gavin Bailey – a former Sheffield Wednesday first team player - said: “We feel truly privileged to have Richard Gerver as our keynote speaker and enthused that he shares our vision for the future of sport in schools.

“Sport has a unique power in its ability to bring people together and that power has never been as important as it is now for a generation of school kids affected by Covid-19.

“This unique event is set to be bring together schools and local businesses – we see this partnership being essential in our drive to give more and more kids access to quality sports coaching in the future weeks and months.”

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