A STUDENT hockey club has won national praise for its innovative community work.

Durham University Hockey Club was shortlisted for the Innovation prize at the England Hockey Awards 2018 for its Hooray for Hockey programme.

It follows the launch of four community outreach initiatives in the past year, aimed at helping young people, local hockey clubs and adults with physical health challenges.

Quentin Sloper, director of Experience Durham, which co-ordinates sport at the university, said: “This is a great example as to how our student performance clubs can also make a unique contribution to the local community.

“The opportunity for young people to be coached by, and rub shoulders with, the next generation of Olympic talent is something quite special and the multi-million pound expansion of our Maiden Castle Sports and Wellbeing complex will enable many more of our sports to develop similar initiatives over the coming years.”

The Junior Festival, in February 2018, attracted over 200 children from 12 schools and clubs to a Hockey World Cup-themed tournament and was so successful organisers are looking to repeat it this summer.

A Coaching Roadshow has seen six local clubs benefit from weekly DUHC-led coaching sessions.

There have also been Walking Hockey sessions, aimed at helping adults with physical health challenges enjoy the sport.

The Back to Hockey initiative helped people who had not played for a long time to enjoy it again.

All the sessions are run by Durham University students, giving up their own time to volunteer for the benefit of the community, with over 50 young people taking part.

As well as being shortlisted for the Innovation Award, Jack Waller and Tess Howard won Junior Performance Player Awards at the ceremony in Leicester on Saturday.

Gareth Weaver Tyler was shortlisted for Coach of the Year.

Club captain Cat McLellan said: “To win two awards and be shortlisted for another two on one night was incredible.”

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