Over 200 young people will be offered the chance to learn more about all kinds of sport, from ultimate frisbee to football, at the first Staffordshire StreetGames Festival being staged next week at Northwood Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent.
StreetGames is a national charity dedicated to developing sport in disadvantaged communities and making sport accessible to all young people regardless of their income and social circumstances.
This is achieved by working with partners around the UK, such as Advantage West Midlands and Stoke-on-Trent City Council, to deliver doorstep sport - positive activities provided to young people when they want it and how they want it.
The Staffordshire StreetGames, sponsored by Advantage West Midlands to aid young people in the county through a variety of sports, will bring together schools from across Stoke-on-Trent. Among the activities included are:
Street Dance – Czech Slovak Roma dance group who have been picked to perform by MTV and the Children’s Fund will perform free form break dance.
BMX – riders will showcase their skills on specially designed mobile ramps.
Football & Basketball – pre arranged teams of young people will compete to become “StreetGames Champions 2008”.
Futsal – interactive workshops for young people to understand and play new sports.
Mobile Climbing Wall – where young people will get the opportunity to scale new heights both physically and mentally.
Sumo wrestling suits & The Gladiator Duel – inflatable equipment for young people to pit their wits against each other in an ultra safe environment.
Several young people in the city have already had the opportunity to sample some of the games on offer when some of the StreetGames activities were on show at New Ford Primary School in Sneyd Green.
The event, part of a continuing programme by the New Ford Residents Association to use sport as a way of combating anti-social behaviour amongst younger people, and also sponsored by Advantage West Midlands, was a great success and gives a good indication of how important StreetGames will be to Stoke-on-Trent.
Councillor Debra Gratton, portfolio holder for Sport and Leisure at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “We as a city are very proud to welcome StreetGames to Stoke-on-Trent. Sport is an excellent way of getting positive messages across to young people about teamwork, fair play and discipline.
“It’s also part of a wider plan to make Stoke-on-Trent a City of Sport, and ensure future generations are fully aware of the importance of health and fitness.
“We see StreetGames as an easily accessible way for young people to get involved in sport, and hope that it paves the way for many more events in the city that will build on its success.”
Iain Neville, Head of Economic Inclusion at Advantage West Midlands, said: “Taking part in sport is a superb way to raise the confidence and aspirations of youngsters – and the festival in Stoke promises to be a great day for all to remember.
“People are at the heart of regeneration – and the StreetGames initiative takes sport right to the heart of local communities and gives young people an opportunity to develop to their full potential.”
Kerry McDonald, from StreetGames, said: “Our aim as a charity is to bring sport to young people from all social backgounds in a way which engages them and encourages them to make sport a regular part of their lives. We do this each year by helping local providers set up schemes and intiaitves to deliver sport and activites to young people in their areas.
“The summer festivals are a hugely important part of our calendar as they give the children from these various projects the opportunity to learn what it is like to take part in a major sporting event, showcase the skills they have developed, both social and sporting, and to simply enjoy sport in the company of other young people.”