The Opening School Facilities (OSF) initiative was launched in early 2023 to provide funding for schools to open up their facilities outside of the school day, giving pupils and people from the local community more opportunities to move and helping them to access a wider range of physical activities. 

As part of the second year of the project, StreetGames undertook a series of Youth Voice consultation sessions with students in OSF schools. The sessions were carefully designed to enable them to be delivered in a fun and active way, ensuring that young people not only enjoyed the sessions, but were fully engaged throughout.  

The sessions were aimed at students identified by the school as inactive or not engaged in sport and physical activity. The aim of the sessions was to find out more about how these young people wanted their community sports provision to look, including activities, style, time and place.  

Read more about the Youth Voice research

Throughout the next phase of StreetGames’ OSF work, we will work closely with consortium partners Active Partnerships, Youth Sport Trust and UK Active to help schools to use the findings of the Youth Voice sessions to enhance their community sports provision and ensure their offer is accessible to all students.  

Our role within OSF over the coming year will focus on three key areas of work: 

1. Youth Voice: Supporting schools to interpret Youth Voice research and develop their community sports provision for young people in their community.
2. Community Connectivity: Supporting our network of locally trusted organisations to connect to OSF schools.
3. Training & Workforce Development: Through our Training Academy, we will provide opportunities for Active Partnerships and schools to upskill their workforce, with the aim of enhancing the community sports provision available for young people in underserved communities. We will also support schools to access leadership and training courses for their students.

Arissa is a StreetGames Young Advisor and a member of the team that worked on developing our Youth Manifesto. Here, she tells us in her own words about her experience of an opportunity that StreetGames were able to offer as part of our Inspiration campaign thanks to Matchroom Boxing.

Having become involved with StreetGames last year through my role as a Young Advisor, recently I was fortunate enough to be invited to a Matchroom Boxing event at Manchester’s AO Arena where I got to go backstage and meet some incredible people that I idolise and look up to. I was honoured to meet some amazing people, including one of the night’s winners Rhiannon Dixon as well as Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn, Manchester City player John Stones, The Stomping Ground founder Charlie Parsons, commentator Steve Bunce and boxers Sunny Edwards and Anthony Crolla.

The entire night was a dream. I saw some fantastic fights, and being backstage and getting to see how everything is so well thought out made me enjoy the experience even more. I was grateful for all the fighters and people who I spoke to for taking time out of their day to have a chat.

Rhiannon Dixon became world champion that night, and seeing it happen with my own eyes made me want to dream and aim for the same thing. I met people who I know will be a part of my life in the future and will help me achieve everything I want to.

None of this would have been possible without StreetGames and Alex Le Guevel at Matchroom Boxing and I would like to thank them for giving me this opportunity. My love for boxing has only grown and as a Young Advisor for StreetGames I have many new ideas which include boxing that I would love to share.

It was definitely a night I will never forget and I’m forever thankful to everybody who made it happen. I look forward to working with StreetGames and Alex in the future to see how far I can get. That night proved that anything is possible if you are committed enough and have enough passion.

The impact of young volunteers within communities is immeasurable, and the recent announcement of the Young Volunteer of the Year regional winners by StreetGames underscores the profound influence of these dedicated individuals. From London and the Southeast to the tranquil landscapes of Wales and the bustling cities of the North, these exceptional young volunteers have showcased unwavering commitment, dedication, and a passion for community development. Let’s dive into their incredible stories and the impact they have made in their respective regions:

London and Southeast:

Zakariya Rahman, Ekota Academy: Zakariya’s journey from participant to a dedicated volunteer at Ekota Academy stands as a testament to his unwavering commitment and personal growth. Through his active involvement in coaching workshops and leadership training, Zakariya has not only enhanced his sports skills but has also become an inspiring mentor, fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment at Ekota Academy.

North East:

Rashvin Ramanathas, Young Asian Voices: Rashvin’s remarkable journey began with a simple desire to make friends and boost his confidence. Accumulating over 400 hours of volunteering, Rashvin has significantly contributed to various levels of cricket training sessions, fostering team spirit and encouraging inclusivity. His patient and welcoming demeanor has created a nurturing environment for others to thrive.

North West:

Kamal Williams, Hideaway Project: Kamal’s journey with the Hideaway Project has been marked by significant personal growth and leadership development. From reserved participation to becoming a peer leader during the pandemic, Kamal has showcased unwavering commitment and reliability, leaving a lasting impact on the community.

Yorkshire:

Andreas Ramirez: Andreas’s consistent dedication and invaluable support in the successful delivery of multiple sessions have been instrumental in ensuring the smooth operation of various activities.

North and South Wales:

Ella Jenkins and Cerys Parry: Ella and Cerys have made a significant impact in their local community through their commitment to delivering weekly football and basketball sessions. Their collaborative efforts with local authorities, the police, and the youth service have demonstrated their dedication to breaking down barriers and fostering a love for sports among participants.

South Wales:

Lara Birtles, StreetGames: Lara’s journey with StreetGames began with her instrumental role in securing funding for community sessions. Her leadership skills and unwavering commitment have positioned her as an exemplary role model in her community.

These remarkable young volunteers have not only made a difference in their communities but have also set an inspiring example for others to follow. Their dedication and passion for community development serve as a beacon of hope for a brighter and more inclusive future.

Written by Claire Lane, National Director, Wales

StreetGames recently published our 1,000 Young Voices report, a major new survey of 1,000 young people commissioned to better understand the key issues and the similarities and differences amongst young people from lower-income households and the challenges that they face when it comes to accessing sport and physical activity.

We know all too well that young people growing up in low-income households and in under-served communities often experience inequalities of opportunity & participation. The underlying causes and issues of these broader inequalities are complex – some of the resulting barriers are ‘material’ (e.g. cost, transport, access to facilities) whilst others are deeply psychological. Some issues have been made worse by the pandemic and the current cost of living crisis.

The knowledge obtained through this new research has real value in understanding the current landscape when it comes to participation in sport and offers valuable insight into how to better engage different segments of the population going forward. And while 72% said that they enjoy taking part in sport and 75% want to do more, currently only a quarter of those surveyed specifically said they spend their time playing sport. It’s clear that access to sport still lags behind appetite.

Some of this is understandably down to the ongoing cost of living crisis. Over a third of participants feel the Cost of Living crisis has negatively affected how much they take part in sport and physical activity. This figure is especially high amongst those with caring responsibilities with half saying they do less, whilst also being significantly higher than average for those who are Neurodivergent and/or have a Physical Disability. But the research also went deeper in seeking out the different motivations and barriers that young people have when it comes to getting involved, from lack of confidence in taking part, to those who attend more for the social side than the sport itself. Key to increasing participation across the board is providing an offer that ensures that whatever your main drive for coming along, there is something available to suit.

As StreetGames’ National Director for Wales, I’m heartened by the work the Welsh Government has been doing in recent years to put health and wellbeing front and centre in their policies and approach. We are all working towards making the Vision for Sport in Wales a reality, where we have transformed Wales into an active nation where everyone can have a lifelong enjoyment of sport, and as a National Partner to Sport Wales we’re committed to working collaboratively to make this happen.  Core to this is helping to deliver on the seven well-being goals that form the central mission of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act. That Act, the first of its kind in the UK, gives a legally binding common purpose – the seven well-being goals – for national government, local government, local health boards and other specified public bodies. It details the ways in which specified public bodies must work, and work together to improve the well-being of Wales. Our own work strongly correlates with three of these wellbeing goals:

• Healthier Wales,
• More Equal Wales,
• A Wales of cohesive communities

Each of these goals could also benefit from the new insight provided by the 1,000 Young Voices report, in particular its research on the seven segments of young people that capture the motivators, barriers, and associated emotions that young people experience in relation to sport. From those who lack confidence around getting involved, to those whose sport as a valuable way to destress, we all have different reasons for wanting to get involved in sport and it’s important to develop an offer that appeals to as many different motivators as possible. By harnessing this 1,000 voices insight we can continue to build on our Doorstep Sport offer to ensure everyone can be active in a way that provides enjoyment.

The recently published annual report for 2022/23 from The Children’s Commissioner for Wales contains recommendations to tackle child poverty that speak directly to the findings from the 1,000 young voices insight. The Commissioner is recommending to Welsh Government that there is increased investment in play, sports & leisure facilities, and youth support, as well as free bus travel for all children. Our insight shows that over 20% state that they have no way of getting to activity sessions, and three quarters want to do more.

At our recent Network Events in both North and South Wales, there was a real buzz in the room when sharing the insight, and discussing the seven segments. Many of our Locally Trusted Organisations (LTOs) across Wales are doing fantastic work to provide a varied and vibrant Doorstep Sport offer that caters for many different young people, but they also recognised that they need support from the wider sector to diversify the offer further. When asked what StreetGames should do to activate the insight, and particularly the 7 segments, the overwhelming response was to support NGBs to understand it and work with LTOs to create new ways for young people to participate locally.

We have a fantastic track record of working with NGBs in Wales and have a rich history of co-creating products and interventions with a wide range of sports. This new insight will help us to go further to challenge and positively disrupt the mainstream sport sector, and provide opportunities to create meaningful change to tackle the stubborn inequalities that young people living in low-income, underserved communities face, when it comes to accessing sport and physical activity opportunities.

If you want to know more about the work we do in Wales, or are an NGB that wants to collaborate then please get in touch at wales@streetgames.org

Written by: Rhiannon Sheen de Jesus 

At the end of July, StreetGames Wales took part in their now annual Dragons Den pitch day, supported by SEWSCAP and SEWH. The event was the mid-point in what will become an 18-month project to support young people living in areas of poverty across South East Wales to get their voices heard, and take action. The project includes working with a range of Locally Trusted Organisations (LTOs) in the StreetGames network to help them identify young people to become peer researchers. These magnificent young people then undergo a series of training workshops and receive support to help them investigate a research project, and ultimately develop a business proposal to tackle their local issues. This year’s research theme was around developing attractive sport and/or physical activity offers for young people living in underserved communities, engaging around 20 peer researchers from six LTOs. The team in Wales have worked tirelessly to support the peer research groups locally, and all four dragons (judges) were blown away by the pitches delivered. The young people they met gave them so much hope for the future and how this funding could make a massive impact on the young people’s lives in underserved communities.

Each group was given 15 minutes to pitch for up to £15,000 and had to produce and submit a business plan, detailed budget and risk analysis. The groups ranged from 16 years old to 24, and feedback from the dragons stated that some of these proposals were the best they had ever seen! With well-written proposals, a brilliant analysis of the research undertaken and such detailed budgets, the dragons were all blown away in different ways by different groups. One group talked openly about their personal challenges to accessing sport and physical activity and how they want to ensure other girls in their community don’t face the same struggles. Another group talked about how anti-social behaviour and youth violence had rocketed since covid, and is causing real problems. Their simple intervention will make real and lasting change possible for their peers.

Why are we sharing this? Youth voice is an integral part of everything we do at StreetGames. By engaging, upskilling and supporting young people in local communities, we are shifting the power. The power that changes the lives of young people and their communities by offering them a way of expressing their concerns in a safe and empowering atmosphere. A place where local issues can be shared and acted upon to create meaningful change. This also has a positive impact on the peer researchers, who develop many soft skills and hard skills to further their personal and career development.

As a result of this project, the peer researchers have been successful in obtaining funding to tackle the issues they face in their local community through DoorStep Sport provision, with over £75,000 being invested into 6 underserved communities.

Our Partnership Fundraising manager in Wales, Kevin Roberts says: ‘We are delighted to be able to continue our excellent relationship with SEWSCAP & SEWH, and to be able to provide more young people with access to high quality, evidence-led Doorstep Sport sessions in underserved communities in South Wales. Our innovative partnership has resulted in over £75,000 being invested into organisations across the region, using the peer research methodology which will have a lasting effect on the young people involved, beyond the life of their projects. We are incredibly grateful to SEWSCAP & SEWH for their continued support, and look forward to seeing the projects develop over the months ahead.’

Ar ddiwedd mis Gorffennaf, cymerodd StreetGames Wales ran yn eu diwrnod maes blynyddol den y dreigiau, gyda chefnogaeth SEWSCAP a SEWH. Roedd y digwyddiad yn ganolbwynt i’r hyn a ddaw yn brosiect 18 mis i gefnogi pobl ifanc sy’n byw mewn ardaloedd o dlodi ar draws De-ddwyrain Cymru i leisio’u barn, a gweithredu. Mae’r prosiect yn cynnwys gweithio gydag amrywiaeth o Sefydliadau y mae Ymddiriedolaethau Lleol (LTOs) yn eu helpu i adnabod pobl ifanc i ddod yn ymchwilwyr cymheiriaid. Yna mae’r bobl ifanc godidog hyn yn mynd trwy gyfres o weithdai hyfforddi ac yn cael cymorth i’w helpu i ymchwilio i brosiect ymchwil, ac yn y pen draw i ddatblygu cynnig busnes i fynd i’r afael â’u materion lleol. Roedd thema ymchwil eleni yn ymwneud â datblygu cynigion chwaraeon a/neu weithgarwch corfforol deniadol i bobl ifanc sy’n byw mewn cymunedau nad ydynt yn cael eu gwasanaethu’n ddigonol, gan ymgysylltu ag oddeutu 20 o ymchwilwyr cymheiriaid o 6 LTOs. Mae’r tîm yng Nghymru wedi gweithio’n ddiflino i gefnogi’r grwpiau ymchwil cymheiriaid yn lleol, a chafodd pob un o’r pedair draig (beirniaid) eu chwythu i ffwrdd gan y caeau a ddarparwyd. Rhoddodd y bobl ifanc y gwnaethant gyfarfod â nhw gymaint o obaith iddynt ar gyfer y dyfodol a sut y gallai’r cyllid hwn gael effaith aruthrol ar fywydau’r bobl ifanc mewn cymunedau nad ydynt yn cael eu gwasanaethu’n ddigonol.

Rhoddwyd 15 munud i bob grŵp gynnig am hyd at £15k, bu’n rhaid iddynt gynhyrchu a chyflwyno cynllun busnes, cyllideb fanwl a dadansoddiad risg. Roedd y grwpiau’n amrywio o 16 oed i 24, ac roedd geiriau gan y dreigiau yn nodi bod rhai o’r cynigion hyn y gorau a welsant erioed! Wedi’i ysgrifennu mor dda, dadansoddiad gwych o’r ymchwil a wnaed a chyllidebau mor fanwl. Cafodd y dreigiau eu chwythu i ffwrdd mewn gwahanol ffyrdd gan wahanol grwpiau. Siaradodd un grŵp mor agored am eu heriau personol unigol eu hunain i gael mynediad at chwaraeon a gweithgaredd corfforol a sut maent am wneud yn siŵr nad yw merched eraill yn eu cymuned yn wynebu’r un brwydrau. Soniodd grŵp arall am sut mae ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol a thrais ieuenctid wedi cynyddu ers covid, ac yn achosi problemau gwirioneddol. Bydd eu hymyrraeth syml yn gwneud newid gwirioneddol a pharhaol yn bosibl i’w cyfoedion.

Pam ydym ni’n rhannu hyn? Mae llais ieuenctid yn rhan annatod o bopeth a wnawn yn StreetGames. Drwy ymgysylltu, uwch sgilio a chefnogi pobl ifanc mewn cymunedau lleol, rydym yn newid y pŵer. Y pŵer sy’n newid bywydau pobl ifanc a’u cymunedau trwy gynnig ffordd iddynt fynegi eu pryderon mewn awyrgylch diogel a grymusol. Man lle gellir rhannu materion lleol a gweithredu arnynt i greu newid ystyrlon. Mae hyn hefyd yn cael effaith gadarnhaol ar yr ymchwilwyr cymheiriaid, sy’n datblygu llawer o sgiliau meddal a sgiliau caled i hybu eu datblygiad personol a gyrfa.

O ganlyniad i’r prosiect hwn mae’r ymchwilwyr cymheiriaid wedi llwyddo i gael cyllid i fynd i’r afael â’r problemau y maent yn eu hwynebu yn eu cymuned leol trwy ddarpariaeth Chwaraeon Cam Ddrws, gyda dros £75,000 yn cael ei fuddsoddi mewn 6 chymuned nad ydynt yn cael eu gwasanaethu’n ddigonol.

Meddai Kevin Roberts, ein Rheolwr Codi Arian Partneriaeth yng Nghymru: Rydym yn falch iawn o allu parhau â’n perthynas ragorol gyda SEWSCAP a SEWH, ac i allu darparu mynediad i fwy o bobl ifanc i sesiynau Chwaraeon Stepen Drws o ansawdd uchel, a arweinir gan dystiolaeth, mewn cymunedau nad ydynt yn cael eu gwasanaethu’n ddigonol. yn Ne Cymru. Mae ein partneriaeth arloesol wedi arwain at fuddsoddi dros £75,000 mewn sefydliadau ar draws y rhanbarth, gan ddefnyddio’r fethodoleg ymchwil cymheiriaid a fydd yn cael effaith barhaol ar y bobl ifanc dan sylw, y tu hwnt i oes eu prosiectau. Rydym yn hynod ddiolchgar i SEWSCAP a SEWH am eu cefnogaeth barhaus, ac edrychwn ymlaen at weld y prosiectau’n datblygu dros y misoedd i ddod.

Young people today lead complex lives, and the reasons why some fall into crime or anti-social behaviour are also complex. Factors such as family relationships, poverty, lack of opportunities, and poor socialisation can all play a role. In addition, there are a range of theories which posit that the way we perceive, label and interact with young offenders or those at risk of offending can have a significant impact on their own mindsets and actions.

For young people who are at greater risk of offending, sport can provide a twin-track approach that prevents them from entering the Youth Justice System and towards activities that build strengths, capacities and potential whilst emphasising positive behaviours and outcomes. The opportunities for engagement and for ‘relationship building’, in and through sport, provide a valuable medium through which to offer this twin-track approach to empower young people to develop social capital and pro-social identities.

It is precisely this approach that has shaped the recent hugely successful intervention from the Ministry of Justice, the Youth Justice Sport Fund. Managed by The Youth Justice Sports Fund (YJSF) Consortium, which brought together StreetGames, The Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice, and was chaired by the Sport for Development Coalition, the consortium enabled the. investment of £5m supported 220 projects across England and Wales to use sport to enhance positive outcomes for vulnerable young people. The funding facilitated voluntary and community sports organisations to undertake targeted work supporting children and young people with a secondary level of need who are understood to be at risk of either entering the criminal justice system or being a victim of crime.

The aims of the programme were twofold:

Aim 1: Support vulnerable young people aged 10-17 at risk of involvement in crime, anti-social behaviour and serious violence through involvement in local sporting activities.

Aim 2: Build capacity and the capability of sport sector delivery organisations to work effectively with their local criminal justice partners, including Youth Justice Services, Police and Police Crime Commissioners (PCC)/Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) structures.

7,832 young people were involved in the programme, with a total of 68,741 attendances during the twelve-week period. An average of 36 young people engaged per organisation, although this varied between organisations. Of the young people engaged, 82% came from the most deprived communities within the bottom four IMD deciles. As the initial evaluation report clearly highlights, this programme demonstrated that a sport-plus approach offers more opportunities to undertake meaningful work with young people experiencing high levels of challenge in their lives and enabled staff to build a strong rapport with young people. It also enhances young people’s skills and knowledge and provides access to additional support.

This success was based on more than just sport; it relied on the extensive expertise of the organisations involved in coordinating the programme and the high levels of trust enjoyed by the local organisations delivering on the ground.

This experience ensured that some of the most influential characteristics of the fund were baked into delivery across the board. These included:

• Ability to flex the original project plans to respond quickly to any unforeseen challenges and adapt their delivery to continue to meet the overall aims of the programme.
• Autonomy to decide budget priorities to reach and engage the targeted young people in their projects.
• A high level of trust was placed in organisations to deliver what was needed in their communities whilst meeting the expectations placed on funded projects.
• The consistent and ongoing support offered to projects throughout the programme by the Consortium, including MEL support, enabled them to collect and report data that would previously have been impossible without a blend of financial support and guidance.
• Underpinning the programme with the shared Theory of Change and clear expectations of projects made clear from the outset.

The ability to provide this level of flexibility to respond to local leads and to support the provision of meaningful MEL data was a critical success factor for the programme. Projects that were supported through the YJSF were able to demonstrate, at the point of application, that they were able to meet clearly articulated expectations on MEL, as well as the ability to effectively implement the different aspects of the Theory of Change, to engage young people with a secondary level of need. As a result, the 220 projects who received funding were in a great position to succeed.

That flexibility to design projects that they felt would be best suited to the targeted young people and to adapt projects if needed in response to the reality of the context they faced proved hugely important and underscores exactly why LTOs are best placed to carry out this kind of work. Their natural agility, combined with the strong trust they already enjoy in local communities, means they can reach the young people that others find hard to reach and engage them on their own terms.

The tremendous success of the YJSF, and the incredible speed with which it was effectively rolled out and delivered, should be taken as demonstrable evidence of the power of sport, the effectiveness of trusted sporting organisations and the role that sport and physical activity can play in supporting vulnerable young people towards personal growth and development.

At StreetGames, we are driven by our passion for creating an excellent, diverse local workforce that reflects the richness and diversity of the communities our LTOs serve. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that every young person living in a low-income, underserved neighbourhood has access to the right sporting opportunities, free from barriers and limitations.

The StreetGames Training Academy plays a crucial role in achieving this goal. We develop and deliver bespoke training programmes that equip coaches, volunteers, and sports development staff with the necessary skills, confidence, and knowledge to bring Doorstep Sport to every underserved community.

Our training empowers the workforce to initiate positive change by focusing on areas such as building relationships, adapting mainstream sports delivery, community safety, as well as mental and physical well-being.

What sets us apart is our dedication to making learning easy, practical, and interactive. This approach allows us to reach and engage individuals who may not have had previous access to training or positive learning experiences. StreetGames training has a higher percentage of candidates from ethnically diverse communities than most NGB training offers – “we take our training to the doorstep of these communities instead of just online, or at central venues that suit us – we are the people beside the people and it’s all about ‘Frontline First’.” – Mark Roughsedge, Workforce Lead, LSE.

By expanding their knowledge, skills, and behaviours, we broaden their opportunities and boost their confidence to pursue further training, volunteering roles, and employment with Locally Trusted Organisations who are committed to utilising the power of Doorstep Sport to transform lives and local communities.

Over the last year, the StreetGames London South East team have delivered over 70 courses to nearly 1000 candidates, with 66% of participants coming from ethnically diverse communities, showing that we are training people who traditionally face barriers to mainstream coaching qualifications. 58% of those accessing our training also come from LSEG groups 1-4, showing that we are reaching those people who face numerous other barriers to CPD opportunities in the sports sector.

Through these initiatives, we have supported LTOs to adhere to the 5 rights of Doorstep Sport (Right Place, Right Time, Right Price, Right Style, Right Leaders) to make sure the community sport offer is what children and young people want it to be so they keep returning to be healthier, safer and more successful in their own communities.

Leading our workforce development work in London is, Dan Dodge and Mark Roughsedge who are our Workforce Development Managers.

For more detailed information about our comprehensive training offer, or to arrange for StreetGames to come and deliver training at your venue for your team and partners, please visit The Training Academy section on the StreetGames website or email training.academy@streetgames.org

Written by Lucie Vickers, Head of Volunteering & Youth Voice

At StreetGames, we have always recognised that the benefits of sport and physical activity go far beyond the obvious boosts to mental and physical wellbeing. More than almost any other activity, sport has the ability to offer people new skills, new confidence, and an improved ability to work together as part of a team.

For many of the young people who take part in Doorstep Sport, one of the things they say made the biggest difference for them is the way that taking part in sport and physical activity has allowed them to break out of their shell and take on new roles and responsibilities, and this is especially true of our young volunteers.

StreetGames places great emphasis on social action and volunteering within its network of projects. The StreetGames Volunteer programme, which was established in 2007, offers volunteering opportunities for 16-25 year olds – helping them to make a positive difference in their local community.

A typical young volunteer will support and run local sport sessions, tournaments, assist at large-scale national sports tournaments, learn how to coach sport and design youth-led activities. By contributing in this way, they increase resources in their local community and provide more young people with the opportunity to participate in sport.  The programme also assists with developing their confidence, self-esteem and community leadership skills and they have the opportunity to gain recognised awards and qualifications.

A volunteer survey that was undertaken during 2015 with over 300 StreetGames Young Volunteers provided extremely useful feedback in relation to the value of the programme to the young volunteers and also its impact. The results showed clearly that the volunteers enjoy the time they spend volunteering, with – 97% stating that, when thinking about their last volunteering experience, they had enjoyed it (including 59% who stated that they had very much enjoyed it) – with respondents most commonly describing volunteering as: ‘fun’, ‘rewarding’, ‘helpful’ and ‘enjoyable’. But the benefits extend far beyond having fun, with volunteers highlighting the importance of benefits such as gaining leadership skills, additional qualifications, and benefiting from mentoring.

In recent years, StreetGames has been able to offer young volunteers the chance to develop even further through our annual residentials, camps or youth conferences. Last year at our Summer Camp, the Young Advisors took the lead on planning and delivering activities for the young people in attendance. For many of the Young Advisors, this was the first-time delivering activities to large groups of young people which some said they found daunting initially. However, by consistently putting themselves out of their comfort zone, the Young Advisors came away from camp with much improved confidence. The difference these experiences make to young people over a short time frame is quite extraordinary, with the overwhelming majority reporting that the 2-3 days they spend supporting peers at Summer Camp has a huge impact – ‘life changing’ in some instances.

Once engaged with StreetGames, young people can continue to be involved for years to come. Young Advisors are invited to be part of the alumni group and continue to be offered a variety of opportunities that SG are able to provide. The Head of Volunteering and regional staff remain in contact with those that wish to, on a regular basis. As a result of these relationships, StreetGames staff regularly provide references for young people embarking on their employability journey, and even provide signposting or application support. Some of our young volunteers have gone on to address audiences in the Houses of Parliament, lead sessions in online conferences, and even represented StreetGames at the Royal Garden Party.

Volunteering offers a fantastic pathway for young people in underserved communities to discover their passions, build their confidence and unleash their potential. At StreetGames, we’re committed to making sure as many young people as possible can benefit from those opportunities.

Written by Kate Turnbull, Young Advisor.

My journey with StreetGames started around three years ago, when I was supported into volunteering by my PE teacher at school and into a local organisation, Hat-Trick in Newcastle. I was later introduced to StreetGames by completing Activators and Level 1 qualifications in sports.

As I continued to volunteer as a sports coach, my confidence and ability to overcome challenges grew significantly over the years. This experience not only helped me regain the confidence I had lost during high school but also prepared me for future work environments.

In July and August of 2022, I was a Young Advisor for StreetGames’ Summer Camp in Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games, during which we even attended some of the games! At Summer Camp, along with a group of Young Advisors and StreetGames staff, we ran a camp in line with encouraging young people into sports and also providing an opportunity to experience camping. It was a fun time for me and helped me build up confidence, resilience and I met so many wonderful people along the way.

On the 9 May, I was invited to Buckingham Palace as the representative of all of the young people that had been positively impacted by StreetGames throughout the years. It was such a high honour to represent the many people who had been positively influenced by such a wonderful organisation.

My journey through StreetGames is a one that I will forever remember, making lifelong friends and developing my skills through sports.