StreetGames launches in Coventry
UK-wide youth sports charity rolls out extension of West Midlands
activity targeting disadvantaged communities
Date: Sunday 28th October 2012
Venue: Tile Hill Youth & Community Centre, Jardine Crescent, Coventry
Time: 12pm – 4pm
StreetGames, the award-winning UK sport charity, has expanded its network of partners targeting young people to Coventry. Already noted across the West Midlands for providing new sporting opportunities to the most disadvantaged communities, Coventry is the latest city to unveil a number of StreetGames projects designed to ensure an Olympic legacy of sport participation in one of the country’s major cities.
The event, which takes place at the Tile Hill Youth & Community Centre, will bring together Coventry and Warwickshire partners including Coventry Crusaders Foundation, Warwickshire Race & Equality Partnership, Positive About Young People and Moat House Sports Centre as well as being supported by the police, the city council and the County Sports Partnership.
Young people Coventry will get the chance to try a variety of sports on the day including, football, handball, basketball and dodgeball. All activities will be supported by the Crusaders Foundation’s young volunteers who are all part of the Cooperative StreetGames Young Volunteers Programme and will help coach new participants.
Local sporting legends former long distance runner and Olympian Dave Long and ex-British Athlete, TV commentator and member of the British Board of Athletics, Dave Moorcroft will also be supporting the launch on the day.
Kerry McDonald, West Midlands Manager for StreetGames said “Coventry is a very important city for StreetGames and we are delighted to have set up these new partnerships to ensure all young people have access to quality sport and dance. The benefits of playing sport are numerous and this new provision will have a positive impact on the lives of the young people, as well as the communities they live in. StreetGames is committed to providing a long lasting Olympic legacy for young people living in inner cities and this expansion programme is another example of how we are achieving that. We already have a great working partnership with organisations such as the Crusaders Foundation and Moat House Leisure & Neighbourhood Centre in Coventry and we look forward to developing the same with our new partners.”
Now in its seventh year, StreetGames supports over 150 projects across the UK to provide weekly sport to disadvantaged young people, and recently passed 2 million sports attendances by young people. Working with partners such as Sport England, Coca-Cola Great Britain, and the Co-operative Group, StreetGames brings sport to those that need it the most; young people in disadvantaged communities. Coventry, with its recent status as an Olympic 2012 city, is the latest area in the West Midlands targeted to ensure a post-Olympic sporting legacy and create a sporting habit for life.