New chess clubs have opened at Ventnor Library on a Wednesday afternoon and in Sandown Library on a Thursday afternoon.
The libraries of Cowes, East Cowes, Freshwater, Ryde and Newport have also agreed in principle to host a chess club, with free lessons for anyone that wishes to learn. Initially, these lessons would be of a casual nature within the chess club, progressing towards a more structured format following a tried and tested classroom-type of course.
Establishing these chess clubs is only the first stage of a major programme to promote chess on the Isle of Wight and make it available to all. The next stage would be to supply Charity Chess in Schools and Communities (CSC) chess tutors to give lessons.
There are very few schools on the Island that offer chess lessons or even a lunchtime or after-school chess club. It has been observed that children who play chess have better school results. It follows that they are maybe better equipped for their future working lives.
In order to get these library chess clubs up and running, volunteers for the position of chess monitor are required to attend the chess club area as a supervisor.
For further information contact [email protected].
