A PROJECT which gives sports equipment and coaching to poverty-stricken children is to be given the royal seal of approval.

South Nottingham College's Balls to Poverty scheme has given thousands of children in South Africa the chance to play sport.

College staff and former students involved in the project will be congratulated by the Queen on Friday.

They will be one of 21 groups of university or college students to receive the Queen's Anniversary Prize in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

The prizes recognise the work within higher and further education institutions and the impact they have.

The former students attending will be Pete Cassidy, Filippa Bartlett, Nathaneal Jones, Ben Elliott and Tom Hodgett.

They will be joined in London by college chairman of governors Keith Beaumont, principal Mal Cowgill and Balls to Poverty director Joe Sargison.

Mr Sargison said: "I feel very honoured that the college has been recognised for our work on the Balls to Poverty programme over the years and it gives an opportunity for me to thank all staff, sponsors, partners, teachers, parents and members of the public who have made contributions along the way to support us with this work."

The scheme was set up in 2004 to raise funds to buy and distribute 26,000 footballs and rugby balls for young people in South African townships.

More than 180 students have visited those areas to deliver the equipment and provide coaching. In many cases, the students received a heroes welcome from the children, many of whom had not been able to play sport before.

The next trip to South Africa is on April 1 and involves 32 students. The project is also expanding, with a first trip to Ugandan slums planned for 18 students shortly after.

Mr Sargison said: "After watching a group of youngsters chase a makeshift ball made of rags barefooted, I wanted to buy them a real leather ball from a local market.

"I was moved by what I saw in that Johannesburg township in April 2004 and the memory stays with me to this day."

Mr Cowgill added: "Balls to Poverty was set up to tackle major social challenges at home and abroad through sports training and football.

"It has had benefits for both the volunteers involved and the children in communities in Nottingham and South Africa that it has reached.

"We are extremely proud for the college's work to be commended by this award."

The prizes are the UK's most prestigious form of national recognition open to a higher or further education institution.

Prize-winning institutions can use the Queen's Anniversary Prizes logo for four years, as a hallmark of excellence.