Author and sports coach Kieran set to become Burnley's answer to Joe Wicks

For Kieran, who launched FUNDA 14 years ago and masterminded its growth from hosting Saturday morning football sessions to an OFSTED registered organisation delivering in over 150 primary schools across the North West, is helping parents and teachers to keep children active and entertained.

A live PE session tomorrow is just one of the resources Kieran is using in the scheme he has called FUNDA Greatness to help parents stuck at home with young children during lockdown.

He has set up a daily timetable for parents, carers and also teachers to follow, using a vast array of free resources including lesson plans, podcasts, videos and home movement and fitness workouts.

Kieran said: "I want to reach out to as many parents and families as possible to get on board with this scheme.

"Joe Wicks does one hour a day but this is a full programme that will continue throughout the lockdown and beyond to help keep children active and learning so they don't fall behind.

"We are virtual educators on line with activities linked to the curriculum and I would like to stress that we are not making any profit from this."

After the Prime Minister announced school closures as part of the lockdown, Kieran vowed to continue FUNDA and look after the children of key workers. But all that changed when keyworkers' children were allowed to attend school and Kieran had to suspend his business.

So he came up with the idea of online learning support for the many parents who are looking after their youngsters at home, many of them single parents with little or no support.

Kieran, who is now a children’s author aswell as publishing his own book on how to coach children and start your own business that is now on Amazon., said he had received dozens of phone calls from parents desperate for help which is when he came up with the idea for FUNDA Greatness.

The project also has a chat helpline for those needing extras support and a private facebook group.

Kieran now employs around 18 full time staff and works from his base at Business First in Burnley.

His award winning business is evolving constantly as he tackles the growing problem of childhood obesity and physical inactivity by running education programmes and designing resources and products that entice youngsters away from their ipads and computers to outdoor activities and physical creative play.

He has even been introduced to Her Majesty the Queen during a Royal visit to Burnley College where Kieran holds regular sessions.

Kieran, who is 34 and lives with his fiancee Rachel Robinson and their two sons, Theo (three) and Louie who will be one in October, added: "This is a subject I am passionate about and I want to help as many people out there to get through this Covid 19 crisis with their children and come out the other side smiling, fit and active."

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