Sport England and StreetGames confirm partnerships

The funding follows £500,000 awarded to StreetGames last year and will allow the charity to build upon 11 years of crucial work, harnessing the power of sport to enhance the life-chances of young people growing up in deprived areas. By leveraging the vast experience of its award-winning coaches, the local know-how of its thousand-strong network, and the very latest in community sport research and insight, StreetGames has helped communities throughout England; to become healthier, safer and more successful.

Sport England’s Active Lives Children survey shows that only 1.2 million (17.5%) of children in England meet the guidelines for recommended daily activity, with those from lower income families less likely to be active than those from higher income families.

In response, StreetGames has worked with more than 1000 locally trusted organisations that are embedded in their communities to bring the benefits of sport and physical activity to more than 530,000 young people. StreetGames’ sessions and events have now recorded an incredible 3.86 million total attendances, involving 6,182 coaches and some 15,000 volunteers.

This Sport England investment will be used to create new opportunities for young people to get active in the 50 disadvantaged areas, targeting those who are currently inactive or struggle to maintain their exercise habits. StreetGames will work with its network of locally trusted organisations to develop the opportunities alongside the young people. Some will be based at satellite clubs – typically extensions of community sports clubs that are established in a new venue where young people already meet –  where there will be opportunities to get active and volunteer.

Mims Davies, Sports Minister said:

"StreetGames makes a real difference to hundreds of thousands of children's lives, teaching them important skills and improving mental and physical wellbeing. “It is vital that we continue to create opportunities for everyone to access sport and I am delighted that, through National Lottery funding, this fantastic programme will reach even more young people across the country."

Jane Ashworth CEO, StreetGames said:

“StreetGames is absolutely committed to improving the lives of disadvantaged young people and their communities through sport, not only getting them more active but ensuring we support their mental and physical wellbeing, develop them as individuals within their communities, combat inequalities and help build an activity habit that stays with them for a lifetime. This critical Sport England investment will allow us to continue using sport and physical activity to help create stronger, more resilient communities in these 50 areas and beyond”.

Tim Hollingsworth CEO, Sport England said:

“Our Active Lives surveys show that too many young people are not doing the recommended levels of physical activity for their health, with those from low income families even less likely to be active. Making sport and physical activity relevant and enjoyable to many more young people is a huge priority – which is why this partnership with StreetGames is so important. Our National Lottery investment into StreetGames will help them bring low-cost, accessible, opportunities to thousands of young people from disadvantaged communities across England.”