John Stevenson, the MP for Carlisle, has written to the Head Teachers of local primary schools within his constituency, to promote the benefits of children learning how to play chess. This follows Mr Stevenson’s meeting with John Lydon, the Cumbria representative of the national charity, Chess in Schools and Communities, during the summer recess.
Chess in Schools and Communities provides chess equipment, software and lessons to state primary schools in England and Wales. Their aim is to promote the educational and social benefits of playing chess and to organise chess events that encourage mass participation. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Chess in Schools and Communities charity are now also providing online resources, in collaboration with ChessKid’s website.
John Stevenson MP said: “Chess has a number of academic benefits. These include children developing their critical thinking and logical reasoning skills, as well as helping to improve their overall concentration. These are all transferable skills, which can help children both in their classes, as well as in a chess tournament.
I hope that more children will take up chess as a hobby in the future and that more adults will sign up to become a chess tutor in schools.”
Further information about the Chess and Schools and Communities charity can be found online at: www.chessinschools.co.uk