FAST. FUN. INCLUSIVE.
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PROJECT MISSION
PROJECT MISSION
Ice hockey is too expensive and too intimidating for most families. We're changing that.
Hackney on Ice is a grassroots community project bringing ice hockey to Hackney in a way that is accessible, inclusive, and inspiring.
We are starting with a small pilot in one school, introducing floorball sessions with an ice hockey twist to up to 200 children. These sessions include tailored adaptations for SEND and disabled pupils, alongside a linked reading challenge supported by books. All equipment and resources are provided free of charge, with PE teachers delivering lessons supported by full training and ready-to-use plans.
This first step allows us to test the idea, gather feedback, and learn as we grow. As the project develops and funding becomes available, we will expand into more schools and introduce additional opportunities. Our long-term vision includes “Skate & Learn” programmes, dedicated provision for SEND and disabled communities, family-friendly festivals, and a Coach Development Pathway to nurture the next generation of role-model coaches.
But our mission goes further than sport. Hackney on Ice is using Hackney as a testbed for innovation, creating a model that can be replicated across other boroughs and counties. By embedding our values of respect, integrity, and inclusion from the bottom up, we aim to celebrate diversity, nurture both players and coaches, and strengthen Hackney’s reputation for community pride, sustainability, and fairness.
We want to build a real hockey culture from the grassroots up — one where the community supports each other, grows together, and displays true sportsmanship. Ice hockey is not about aggression: it is about strength, respect, and belonging.
OUR AIMS IN THE FUTURE
Floorball in schools
Floorball in schools
Bringing fast, fun, and affordable hockey into Hackney classrooms to inspire teamwork, fitness, and fair play.
Skate and Learn
Skate and Learn
Skating and learning sessions that combine sport, education, and life skills, with dedicated places for disadvantaged children and opportunities for the most committed to join development squads in our partner clubs.
Disabled and SEND Ice Hockey
Disabled and SEND Ice Hockey
Inclusive sessions designed with the SEND specialist coaches to ensure every child can experience the thrill of the sport (early concept stage).
Hackney on Ice Festival
Hackney on Ice Festival
A community celebration of hockey with games, shows, and family activities to showcase Hackney’s energy and diversity.
Watch Parties
Hackney on Ice CIC will support pilot schools in organising watch parties during non-Olympic years to watch ice hockey films and GB games in major international ice hockey and para-ice hockey tournaments. These events will bring local families, schools, and sports fans together to experience the excitement of the sport, showcase Hackney’s growing hockey culture, and keep momentum and visibility high in between Olympic cycles. The watch parties also serve as fundraising and outreach opportunities, engaging sponsors, local clubs, and youth participants in a relaxed, accessible setting.
Coach Development Pathway
Not clones, but coaches: helping each Hackney on Ice Coach discover their own style, stay mindful of their gaps, and lead with values.
Hackney on Ice is not only about developing players — we are building the next generation of coaches. Too often in hockey, the culture drifts towards aggression and “win at all costs.” We want to change that, starting here in Hackney.
Our Coach Development Pathway is an elite programme that will train one young leader each year to become a role-model coach. This opportunity is rare and highly selective. Entry involves a rigorous application process, including interviews, references, and a personality assessment. Only those with the right values — respect, integrity, and inclusion — will be accepted.
Priority will be given to:
Players from our partner clubs who want to move into coaching
Local Hackney athletes who aspire to become ice hockey coaches
The first pilot is expected to launch in summer 2026, subject to funding, with the first coach to be selected in late spring 2026. The programme includes:
EIHA Level 1 Coaching qualification-related fees covered (must already hold EIHA Coach Pathway Foundation certificate).
Mentorship and observation with partner clubs in London.
Calls with experienced coaches and an in-house developed ice hockey coaching course (3 Months, 11 Modules).
A one-week international immersion in Riga, Latvia, to experience a world-class coaching culture first-hand.
A pledge to give back by volunteering with Hackney on Ice after completing the programme.
This is a gold standard pathway designed to be a privilege, not an entitlement. It is about shaping not just coaches, but ambassadors for the sport and community. All applicants must complete accredited safeguarding training in sport and provide a certificate of completion (link). Safeguarding is a compulsory part of the pathway, ensuring that every future coach begins with a clear commitment to protecting children and young people.
Stay tuned for updates as we prepare to launch this transformative workstream.
Other Development
Looking ahead, we plan to introduce specialist support packages — from governance to coach exchange to expert coaching (Goalie/PEP)— to help raise standards across UK ice hockey.
Partners/Endorsements
Partners/Endorsements
Hackney on Ice CIC is actively building partnerships with schools, local clubs, and various organisations — with more to be announced soon.
Dedicated to the memory of Svetlana Amosova, who believed in the power of sport to shape lives.
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