EXCALIBUR Communications has teamed up with the Swindon Wildcats to give free hockey lessons to school children.

Techs4Education, the firm's educational charity arm, will offer schools free ice hockey lessons when they choose the company as their IT provider.

The promotion by the IT company fulfils its charitable aim of providing activities to children away from technology screens to improve their wellbeing.

The lessons will be given with professional Wildcats coaches, offering an introduction to ice skating or street hockey lessons, worth £300.

Graham Ford, Techs4Education operations director, said: “Through technology, Techs4Education has a clear goal of making the student class room experience exceptional.

“This Swindon promotion sees us wanting to extend this feel-good experience into the playground, by giving young people the chance to try a new sport and get active.

“We have worked successfully with Swindon Wildcats in the Community before, and know they run fun and inclusive courses for all to enjoy.”

Dave Ridley, the charity's community development officer said: “We are a non-profit charity which has strong links with the Wildcats Ice Hockey team. We recognise our role in the whole community and strive to develop both our community schools programmes and the Swindon Wildcats Ice Hockey Academy.

“Since our set up in 2008, we are driven to raise awareness of a healthy lifestyle in children and adults as well as improving sports participation by providing opportunities for all people, from any social and economic backgrounds.

“We look forward to introducing our street hockey programs to schools Excalibur works with locally as well as continuing to provide opportunity to schools we already work closely with,” he added.

Excalibur, based in Arclite House, North Swindon, made it into the Sunday Times Top 100 companies to work for in 2018.