StreetGames at the Stadium
Published 31 July 2008
The sun shone for the Tyne and Durham StreetGames Festival on Tuesday 29th July. The event, organised by StreetGames, the only national charity dedicated to developing sport in disadvantaged communities, brought together over 250 young people from the many different and diverse communities across the Tyne and Durham area.
The many organisations, groups and project officers who are involved in StreetGames activities and other projects focussing on disadvantaged community sport initiatives, organised teams to take part in the three competitions; futsal, StreetCheer and basketball. The Festival attracted young people from all across Tyne and Wear and County Durham. Over 250 young people took part in an exciting range of activities many of which they hadn’t had the opportunity to do before. Taster activities included ultimate frisbee, rugby league, street dance, and triathlon.
From this Festival the winners and runners up will go on to represent their areas in the North East StreetGames Festival, which is being held at The Sporting Club in Cramlington on the 27th August. The winning and runner up teams will again take part in the basketball, football and StreetCheer competitions. However, the fun doesn’t stop there for everyone else who attended this festival as everyone is invited to the North East event to receive quality coaching, mini competitions and even more taster activities.
The North East has seen major development in StreetGames and its presence in the four counties. With full-time co-ordinators in post for the North Tyne area, the South Tyne and Durham area and the Tees Valley area, the amount of activity and projects taking place which are StreetGames focused has increased massively over the last year.
It is important that these Regional Festivals act as the foundations for a legacy which will see the young people continuing to be engaged in StreetGames activity and encourage them to maintain or increase their participation in physical activity.
Gemma Hollywood, StreetGames Co-ordinator for the South Tyne and Durham commented: “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.”
In addition to giving young people a great sporting opportunity, the festival is also a valuable chance for young volunteers to demonstrate their skills and learn what it takes to put on a major sporting event.
Five young volunteers (aged 16-25) from the Gateshead Volunteering project, who are participants in the Co-operative StreetGames Young Volunteers Programme, a national initiative developed between the Co-operative Group and StreetGames to encourage young people to gain leadership, social and sports coaching skills, assisted in the running of the Tyne and Durham StreetGames Festival. The volunteers helped make the day even more enjoyable for the young people taking part.
For further information about StreetGames please contact Gemma Hollywood on 0191 497 2325 or e-mail gemma.hollywood@streetgames.org
