On Saturday 12th December 2021, Sensei Noreen and Sensei Chris travelled to Ireland for a senior TKA grading. Sensei Noreen was awarded her 6th Dan and Sensei Chris was awarded his 2nd Dan (Photo credit to TKA).
On Sunday 19th December 2021, Isobel Shield travelled to Scotland for a further senior TKA grading and successfully gained her 2nd Dan. She is pictured below with other TKA students, (Photo credit to TKA).
The Big Step is a campaign project formed and run by people who have suffered gambling harm. We are part of Gambling with Lives (www.gamblingwithlives.org), a charity set up by bereaved family members and friends who have lost loved ones to gambling-related suicide.
Together, we advocate for a public health approach to preventing gambling harms, which would include an end to all gambling promotion, especially in football. Take a look at our events, media and blog pages to find out how we do this.
Our campaign
In the last two years, we have hosted four walking events across the county, visiting football clubs who promote gambling in front of children.
In 2020, we launched a petition calling for an end to gambling advertising and sponsorship in football.
Our campaign is supported by a growing list of football clubs including Forest Green Rovers, Billericay Town, Lewes FC and Headingley FC.
Education and awareness
We deliver preventative education, awareness and signposting through the lens of lived experience in community settings through our partnerships with Swansea City and Tranmere Rovers, with more clubs planned to sign-up in 2021 and beyond.
Sonkei proudly supports The Big Step Campaign.
Very well done to Sensei Chris and everyone else who walked or supported them.
Unfortunately 2020 was not very kind to anyone, here at Sonkei we had several students ready for grading both Kyu and Dan but sadly just days away both gradings were cancelled. Whilst it is totally understandable that lockdowns and restrictions had to happen, it was very frustrating for the students and the club. Towards the end of 2020 we saw a glimmer of hope when restrictions were lifted, however our regular Dojo at Leam Lane was not reopening, so a few quick emails were sent out and we managed to get 2 nights training at a gym in Birtley and the offer of a hall in Newcastle, sadly we had not even warmed up when a further lockdown came into force. Roll on to 2021 and we are now back, we are currently training at Birtley (main dojo) and Newcastle. During this last lockdown a lot of thinking was done and it was decided that we should leave the KUGB and join the TKA, we are proud to be the first TKA England club and the TKA are proud to have Sensei Noreen as one of their highest ranked Sensei's.
