Foundation helps attendance at Anfield school
Mamadou Sakho returned to All Saints Catholic Primary School in Anfield on Wednesday to continue his support work and assist the children with football coaching and French lessons.
Sakho has now visited the school several times as part of his ambassadorial role with the club's charity, the Liverpool FC Foundation - and Wednesday was his first trip of the new season.
The 23-year-old French international has been actively involved in assisting with the Foundation's On the Ball project, which is an intensive programme based at the school that aims to improve attendance and punctuality, raise numeracy and literacy skills, increase physical activity levels and increase academic achievement.
During his visits, Mamadou assists the Foundation's community coaches, who deliver football sessions at the school each week, as well as helping pupils with their French language studies.
Since Sakho began supporting the On the Ball programme and regularly visiting the school, the overall attendance of pupils has increased by 1.2 per cent for the academic year 2013-14.
Furthermore, 56 per cent of persistent absentees from the previous year have now made the required improvement to above 85 per cent attendance throughout the same academic period.
Sakho said: "I really enjoy my visits to the school and seeing the children continue to develop their French and football skills.
"Being an ambassador for Liverpool FC Foundation is really important to me and gives me the opportunity to give something back to the local community and inspire youngsters."
Jeremy Barnes, headmaster at All Saints Catholic Primary School, added: "I am delighted with the improvement in attendances and the ongoing success of the Foundation's On the Ball programme."
"The children have really embraced the programme and they all really look forward to Mamadou's visits."