‘The secret is belief. Belief in the youth, belief in myself and belief in my team.’
Sport for Change Project
Access Sport is excited to be running the Sport for Change Project as part of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Legacy. In partnership with Comic Relief, this project seeks to provide clubs with a benchmark for promoting youth development through sport.
What is the project?
Access Sport have embarked on a 2 year project in East London’s Olympic Host Boroughs (Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Newham, Greenwich, Waltham Forest) and Bristol to develop 10 ‘Sport for Change’ Clubs. The emphasis for development is on building club capacity, expertise and partnerships in youth development, and to create pathways from the community sports clubs onto apprenticeships, employment and further educational opportunities.
In working with volunteer-led community sport clubs to create bespoke club development plans, Access Sport encourages clubs to engage with young people who are ‘at risk’ of educational failure, anti-social behaviour or crime. Targeting an early intervention age group of 8–16 years, where these sports clubs can demonstrate a real impact plus direction on a young person’s attitude and lifestyle choices. The project will also engage those aged 16 and over to help facilitate lifestyle change, helping to create positive young role models. This will also provide opportunities for them to progress in their own personal development and gain employability skills, including those in leadership, trust, communication and decision making.
Why are we running this project?
Young people growing up in disadvantaged communities across the UK may not realise their full potential and miss out on opportunities that lead to a positive path in life. Many grow up on inner-city estates viewing negative activities such as gangs, drugs, and prostitution as a means to make a living. Youth development is part of every child’s progression to adulthood, enabling them to develop self-confidence, respect for others and aspirations to achieve. Through sport young people can gain key life skills, employability skills and even accreditations that enhance their opportunities of attending education, training and employment. Sport is also effective in early intervention, preventing youth crime and acting as a diversion for those already caught up in the criminal justice system.
For more information contact Harriett Brooks Youth Development Manager on 02079 939 883 / harriett.brooks@accesssport.co.uk
