The first Brighton & Hove Hockey Stars sessions, which ran through April and May, proved popular and a great success with young girls and boys currently in school years 3 to 6 who may not have the opportunity to play or access the sport otherwise taking full part.

Thirty girls and boys from 10 different primary schools in Brighton and Hove took part, two-thirds of whom had not played hockey before. The students were evenly split, 60 per cent girls and 40 per cent boys.

Hockey Stars is an exciting new initiative from Brighton & Hove Hockey Club which aims to make hockey available to children of all abilities with the hour-long sessions running over five weeks at Blatchington Mill School. The scheme is sponsored by Morgan Sindall Construction.

As part of the sessions each child received a playing shirt and a hockey stick. The total cost per child for all of the five sessions was £10 and if the child were subsequently to join Brighton & Hove Hockey Club then that £10 can be used as part payment towards junior membership. So far two-thirds of those who took part in the inaugural sessions have signed up for junior training.

At the end of the sessions there were prizes for the most improved player and awards for the spirit of hockey winners. Photos can be viewed on the club's website at https://www.brightonandhovehockeyclub.net/photos/brighton--hove-hockey-stars-2025-1141194.html