Students at a community project run by Sheffield Wednesday Community Programme were visited by a very special guest recently.

Rt Hon David Blunkett MP made a visit to Yewlands School to visit children taking part in the FAST Scheme, operated in conjunction with the Football Foundation and Manchester University. FAST (Football And Schools Together) aims to improve children's self-esteem and confidence as well as literacy and numeracy skills.

Sheffield Wednesday Community Programme manager, Marcus Brameld, said: "Clubs like this often go unnoticed but they're key to what we do. We hold the club for the students after school and we encourage them to spend half an hour doing homework, followed by an hour of football activities."

"Everybody has a great time and it's nice for them to spend some time focussing on schoolwork whilst their minds are still in learning-mode - straight after school. It's also handy for children whose parents work, it keeps them safe in school for an hour or so and also encourages them to study that bit harder."

"It was great that Mr Blunkett came down to visit - it gave the kids a real boost and they loved meeting his guide dog, Sadie, too."