OnSide to take vital inclusion project for young people nationwide
Young disabled people have been raising awareness in Parliament for the importance of inclusion, as OnSide revealed plans to expand its network of Youth Zones into London.
With a new partnership launched between OnSide, London regeneration specialists Renewal and the Surrey Canal Sports Foundation to build the first Youth Zone in the capital in South Bermondsey, Jack Straw MP hosted a reception to spread the word about the importance of Youth Zones and young disabled people across the country accessing fully inclusive sport.
Inclusion project, A Level Play Field focuses on providing sport and creative activities in a safe environment. Every child, whatever their ability, is able to take part in every activity — from football to climbing — offered at OnSide’s network of Youth Zones, in Bolton, Manchester, Oldham, Wigan, Carlisle and Blackburn.
This news comes at the time the English Federation of Disability Sport revealed the 'Active Together' report. The information is a great starting point for providers who want to increase activities where disabled and non-disabled people can take part in sport and physical activity together. It provides more in-depth information on organising activities for a mixed audience. Covering a range of sports, levels and areas, the study examines current providers’ experiences, successes and learning points. It also suggests ways to attract more disabled people to be active in this way.
Jack Straw MP told guests at the Reception including Paralympians Baroness Grey-Thompson and Rachael Latham:
“The most impressive thing about Youth Zones is that they provide a space for young people to be themselves. It is one of the very few institutions where youngsters naturally come together regardless of their ability, ethnicity or background. This is very important for the future of our society.”
John Inverdale, sports broadcaster and Trustee of Surrey Canal Sports Foundation speaking at the event, said:
“Projects like this, which are about everybody irrespective of their ability or disability and that enable everyone to play sport together have to be the way forward. Sport undeniably teaches you social skills. It is an extraordinary unifying tool and if you don't get that, you really are missing out.”
The aspiration is for London’s first Youth Zone to form part of Renewal’s plans to transform the Surrey Canal area, South Bermondsey, serving the young people of Lewisham and Southwark. The Youth Zone would be integrated within a new state of the art community sports facility, Energize, which will be London’s biggest indoor community sports centre since Crystal Palace opened in 1964. The regeneration plans also include a new Overground station, homes, shops, a revitalised park and a faith and community centre.
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Paralympian and Trustee of Surrey Canal Sports Foundation, said:
“It’s vitally important to do all we can to encourage young people to be active and take up sport – they are the future and therefore we need to nurture their talent. I’m therefore very excited to be part of Energize, which will provide top sports facilities for local young people, alongside the Youth Zone which will help them to develop their creative and enterprise skills.”
Open 52 weeks a year, seven days a week, the new Youth Zone would give young people aged 8 – 19 and those up to 25 with a disability, a place to socialise, be creative and inspire one another in their free time. Young people would be able to take part in a range of activities including dance, sport fitness, music and media and all for just 50p per visit.
Kathryn Morley, Chief Executive at OnSide Youth Zones said:
“We believe that every town and city should have a Youth Zone, so that all young people no matter their ability will have access to an inspiring place to spend their leisure time. Working alongside Renewal and building a Youth Zone in London will be fantastically exciting. We are 100% confident that the London Youth Zone will engage with thousands of young people from Lewisham and Southwark, in exactly the same way they have done in the North West.”
Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, said:
“This is a tremendous project which will deliver much-needed regeneration and investment to the area. The largest community sports facility since the National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace, Energize will invigorate the community and stimulate further opportunities for investment from organisations such as OnSide which have a positive impact through the work they do. Lewisham Council is committed to working together with all those involved in delivering the project to ensure young people in our community are able to take full advantage of the fantastic offer.”
OnSide Youth Zones
OnSide Youth Zones was set up in 2008 to improve young people’s futures by building and supporting places for young people to go, with positive things to do, staffed by people who care, open seven days a week – Youth Zones. They offer more than 20 activities each night ranging from football, climbing and rugby to nail art, DJ-ing, recycled fashion and employability training and entry is just 50p. Youth Zones that are part of the OnSide Network include:
- Manchester (The Factory) Youth Zone: www.thefactoryyz.org
- Oldham (Mahdlo) Youth Zone: www.mahdloyz.org
- Wigan Youth Zone: www.wiganyouthzone.org
- Bolton Lads & Girls Club: http://www.boltonladsandgirlsclub.co.uk/
- Blackburn Youth Zone: www.blackburnyz.org
- Carlisle Youth Zone: www.carlisleyouthzone.org
OnSide’s purpose is to replicate the OnSide Youth Zone model in towns and cities across the UK, developing and opening 20 Youth Zones by 2020. Each Youth Zone is an independent charity with its own private sector led board. This model of local ownership is a key success factor in ensuring financial sustainability of each Youth Zone into the future. The Youth Zone provides a way that local communities can actively support their young people between the age of 8 and 19 (25 for those with a disability).
