“They have given us desperately needed funds to improve our facility to accommodate more people, but also the resources to be able to deliver the additional sessions."

Access Sport has worked in Greater Manchester since 2014. Initially focussed on Manchester and Trafford boroughs, we have engaged over 5,000 young people whilst developing and enhancing 35 community sports clubs.

In the last year our work has expanded into Salford, building a brand-new community cycling facility, and with our exciting new partnership with Nuffield Health we are delighted to have significantly expanded our team. With this extra capacity and resource, we will support community groups across Greater Manchester, creating a vibrant sporting offer and engaging with 15,000 disadvantaged and disabled young people by the summer of 2024. Here you can read about some of our recent work in Greater Manchester

How boxing packs a punch with young people in Partington and Moss Side

The Access Sport team has been working with two community boxing clubs: Partington Boxing Club and long-term partner Moss Side Fire Station Boxing Club. Both clubs have been supported by Access Sport and the Angus Irvine Playing Fields Fund (AIPFF), which exists to  increase opportunities for young people in disadvantaged areas of the UK to play sport.

Partington Boxing Club

The team continues to work closely with Partington Boxing Club - a club set up in 2019 for children and young people aged 6-18. It currently has over 200 members and has been a partner club for the AIPFF since 2021. 

“The opportunities that Access Sport have given our students had been nothing short of outstanding. The young people have been able to try sports they’ve never tried before as well as access community settings which may have normally been out of their reach."

Our connection with the club started when Gary Booth, the club founder identified that a group of 10 children, aged between 7 and 10, were causing anti-social behaviour in the area close to the gym, climbing on the roof and vandalising the building. He offered them 20 minutes to use the gym facilities before a session and they then wanted to join the club. The sessions were at capacity, so Access Sport helped to upskill more volunteers and young leaders and purchase additional equipment so that the club can put on a second ‘Little Rockies’ session to target this age group.

They now have 40 new members taking part in these weekly sessions. 

In June 2022, the AIPFF funded transport costs for the club to take 12 young boxers to an event in Glasgow. This was a fantastic experience and a great opportunity for these young people to see what opportunities there are and share and inspire their peers at the club. 

When asked about the support AIPFF and Access Sport has given to the club Gary said:
“They have given us desperately needed funds to improve our facility to accommodate more people, but also the resources to be able to deliver the additional sessions. Some of the kids had never been out of Manchester so seeing their faces when they travelled to Glasgow was priceless. Hearing them talk to others at the show, with pride that they were from Partington makes all the hard work worth it.’’ 

Moss Side Fire Station Boxing Club

Moss Side Fire Station Boxing Club is a long-term partner of Access Sport. The club was set up in 2008 by three firefighters who wanted to work with young people in Moss Side to raise aspirations and give them positive futures.

During the past eight years, Access Sport has supported the club to grow and develop with funding from the AIPFF. The Access Sport team in Manchester has also worked directly with the club, upskilling young people and helping the club to develop links with local schools.

Mike Power, Programme Leader at Access Sport, says
“A highlight of our work with Moss Side Fire Station Boxing Club was delivering our Young Leaders Academy in 2019. The aim of the course is to upskill young people at the club by providing training and personal development opportunities. The group got the chance to attend public speaking and media training with Adidas, which was an amazing learning opportunity.”

Access Sport also supported the club to take its portable boxing ring to local schools (including SEND schools) to encourage more children and young people to get involved.  Since its establishment, the club has produced National, European and International Champions as well continuing to offer regular sessions to hundreds of children and young people from Moss Side. We look forward to continuing to work with this fantastic club and encouraging more children and young people through the doors and into the ring!

“The opportunities that Access Sport have given our students had been nothing short of outstanding. The young people have been able to try sports they’ve never tried before as well as access community settings which may have normally been out of their reach."

Access Sport brings new inclusive sports sessions to Greater Manchester Schools

Pupils at eight schools have been enjoying new sports including boxing, baseball, American Football, Ultimate Frisbee and BMX cycling across Greater Manchester.

For the past few months, the Access Sport team has been working in partnership with Timperley Boxing Club, the Manchester Baseball Club, the Manchester Titans and the Manchester Junior Ultimate Frisbee club to bring exciting new sports sessions to pupils in local schools.

The clubs have been delivering sessions in schools with the aim of engaging pupils in sports that they may otherwise not have the opportunity to try, removing barriers to participation and encouraging participants attend club sessions outside of school.The team has also provided inclusive sports sessions to a number of SEND schools and a group from the Pavilion Project (a community organisation with over 25 years’ experience and expertise in working with adults and young people with learning disabilities).

Hannah Harrison, from Melland High School (part of the Bright Futures Educational Trust) says:
“The opportunities that Access Sport have given our students had been nothing short of outstanding. The young people have been able to try sports they’ve never tried before as well as access community settings which may have normally been out of their reach. All of the coaching staff we have worked with have been knowledgeable, easy to connect with and have built incredible relationships with our students. Thank you all so much. We look forward to continuing to work with you and further develop a brilliant partnership.”

Access Sport continues to work closely with Bowden Hockey Club to offer weekly multi-sport sessions for Brentwood Special school. The club also runs a Flyerz (inclusive hockey) session engaging adults from a local day care centre.

Mentoring Workshops for Young People from Manchester Academy

The Access Sport team in Manchester has teamed up with long-term Moss Side partner Families Against Violence to deliver a Young Leaders course, including educational and mentoring workshops, to young people from Manchester Academy. Families Against Violence is a project run by James Gregory providing support to young, disadvantaged people and helping them develop confidence and self-esteem to excel in all aspects of life.

The mixed cohort of 20 pupils have been attending weekly workshops co-delivered with Access Sport, with sessions including sports leadership, mentoring and sessions aiming to raise awareness of the dangers of gang culture.

This offer builds on the existing relationship between Access Sport and Families Against Violence. Through the AIPFF, Access Sport has supported the project to develop Wednesday afternoon sessions, where young people can take part in sport, gain mentoring and guidance and support with homework. Families Against Violence is well placed in the heart of the community and has the pre-existing connections to target the most vulnerable young people and there has been over 30 new participants take part in these activities.  

James Gregory, founder of Families Against Violence, says:
“AIPFF and Access Sport have always been there for me over the last couple of years, helping to restart after Covid, and helping us get more volunteers and sessions running. These provide safe spaces for young people in our community, and I would like to say a massive thank you for the ongoing, vital support!’’ 

The Angus Irvine Playing Fields Fund (AIPFF) exists to increase opportunities for young people in disadvantaged areas of the UK to play sport. For more information visit the AIPFF webpage

"All the participants have gained new skills and are feeling more confident on the tracks. For many it was a mile stone, they were feeling nervous and worried that they won’t be able to overcome their fears, but with your very positive encouragement the children want to try and challenge themselves.”

Young People from Greater Manchester learn BMX and life skills

Access Sport’s inclusive cycling offer is going from strength to strength, as new cycling lead Rob Hawker continues to engage local schools and home education groups at Peel Park in Salford and at Platt Fields park in Fallowfield, Manchester.

Rob has been working with young people from Castlefield Campus, a SEMH school, throughout the year and during the last term has been delivering a BMX cycling session each week to a group of 12–15-year-olds. Rob explains how the sessions give the young people a chance to get out of the classroom and let off steam, developing their cycling skills as well as other key skills and competencies.

Each session covers a range of technical skills including bike handling, pumping, jumping, balancing on the start gate. The sessions allow the pupils to challenge themselves in a safe environment and learn to work with their peers, so there are personal development opportunities built into the sessions as well.

Rob says
“I like to challenge them and make them think outside the box. There’s a lot more to planning the sessions than focusing on the technical cycling skills. I try to ensure that everyone stays engaged and that’s as much about progress on the bikes, as it is about giving them other goals to work towards – like getting the older, more competent riders supporting the younger ones and understanding the importance of teamwork.”

Access Sport has also been working with a home-education group, running free, coached BMX cycling sessions at Platt Fields park for children aged between 7 -13 years. We have had an overwhelmingly positive response to the sessions from parents and carers, with the slots filling up in under 10 minutes!

Rob says
“This is a mixed-age and mixed-ability group and that has added some fun and variety to our sessions! I’ve had to structure the sessions to keep everyone engaged, getting the older ones supporting the younger ones. I’m already thinking about the next 12 months, and the possibility of introducing some mountain biking into the sessions.”

Participants’ parents and carers have shared the following feedback:
“Children are very happy excited and happy to attend the sessions where they can meet fellow home educated children and families.”

“Children have said that they are happy to see familiar faces and made new friends (so did parents).”

“All the participants gaining new skills and are feeling more comfortable and confident on the tracks so far. For many it was a mile stone, and they were feeling nervous and worried that they won’t be able to gain the confidence and overcome  their fears, but with your very positive encouragement and no pressure children feel that they want to try and challenge themselves.”

“Often they will say that you are very kind and relaxed and they feel very comfortable in your presence and want to follow instructions given as they feel it is fun and attractive sport. And they would love to learn more and are very keen to improve their skills.”

“Parents are very grateful for the free opportunity and funding for our group, as often the financial aspect is a challenge and many of those children wouldn’t be able to try bmx because of the money issues.”

Access Sport looks forward to continuing to offer these sessions to local schools and home-education groups in Greater Manchester.

To find out more about our work in the area visit our webpage:
Changing Places, Manchester