StreetGames supported the shaping of this strategy through consultation with the young people our community partners work with in the most deprived areas, ensuring their voices and experiences were heard at a national level.
Why Sport Matters
Young people deserve sustained, meaningful activities in their local communities and sport, delivered in a way that meets their needs and supports their development, must be at the heart of that offer. Sport improves health and wellbeing, builds confidence and resilience, and creates real-life connections. Yet too many young people from low-income households and under-served communities are missing out due to deep inequalities in sporting provision. With 4.3 million children and young people growing up in poverty, addressing this challenge has never been more urgent.
Somewhere to Go, Something to Do, Someone to Trust
We welcome the government’s renewed focus on giving young people somewhere to go, something meaningful to do, and someone they can trust. Trusted adults are vital in helping young people feel safe, supported, and connected and StreetGames plays a key role in developing and supporting those adults within local communities. Through our work coordinating the input of the sports sector and amplifying youth voices, we’ve shown how sport can transform lives, tackling isolation and inequalities while giving young people the opportunities they say they want most: to spend more time in-person with their friends and do more sport, more often.
StreetGames’ Role in Delivering Change
StreetGames and its network of 1,600 Community Partners are often at the heart of local communities, delivering sporting activity to young people from low-affluence families and disadvantaged backgrounds. Every year, our network helps around 400,000 children and young people access life-changing sport and physical activity that makes a real difference to their life chances. We champion youth voice at a national level, helping policymakers hear directly from young people through initiatives like our Young Advisors programme.
Mark Lawrie, CEO of StreetGames, said: “We are delighted to see the ambitions set out in the Youth Strategy. Community partners in the StreetGames network will play a crucial role in turning these commitments into reality, and StreetGames stands ready to work with government and the youth sector to make sure every young person has the support and opportunities they deserve.”
If you have any queries about StreetGames’ response to the National Youth Strategy or would like more information, please contact us at communications@streetgames.org.