Our #Inspiration2022 Awards were a celebration of the incredible contributions of young leaders and volunteers in their local communities.
Community organisations across our network were invited to nominate individuals who they felt deserved to be recognised for their extraordinary efforts over the past year.
Sport and physical activity programs, when delivered in the right way and with the right people, can have a profound effect on the lives of at-risk young people by encouraging a positive outlook and pro-social behaviours.
The winners of our #Inspiration2022 Outstanding Work in Community Safety Award celebrated those that have connected to their communities and either created or taken up opportunities to overcome boredom and alienation – the leading causes of youth crime and anti-social behaviour.
Our national winner Young Asian Voices, based in Sunderland, were approached by the local police and asked to work with some of the young people in the local community who were known for anti-social behaviour, and were not currently accessing any youth provision. The young people had expressed a need for somewhere warm and dry to go, where they could feel safe and listen to music without being moved on. A project was developed with these requirements at its heart, offering weekly multi-sport sessions with their own unique identity, under the name ‘1-2-Youth Crew’. Sessions were designed to engage both white and BAME young people in order to develop mutual understanding of different cultures and to enhance key life skills including respect, teamwork and self-confidence.
More than 30 young people have attended the sessions, which have also served as a springboard for several other projects. Participants took park in a national anti-racism competition with Show Racism the Red Card, creating a short video on the importance of tackling racism and prejudice which went on to win first prize in the All Ages & Abilities Multimedia category. They also collaborated with local artists on a number of creative arts projects, with their work being displayed at Sunderland Museum and National Glass Centre. Attendees of the sessions have also taken up volunteering and training opportunities, with several going on to become qualified sports coaches.
Our Midlands regional winner Tranai runs Support Through Sport in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, using sport and physical activity interventions to support young people whilst tackling negative influences such as knife crime, gang violence, youth offending and serious youth violence. The organisation works closely with the police and other partners to make sure that the local community and young people are safe and supported to achieve their goals. Only 18 himself, Tranai works incredibly hard and is hugely passionate about what he does, and is a role model to other young people.
Our North West regional winner Melissa is a Community Liaison lead for Cheshire Police, and has worked in partnership with the Warrington Wolves Foundation to support the delivery of Inspiring Futures: an innovative project using the power of sport to engage young people aged 11-18 years at risk of become involved in crime. Using the home ground of Warrington Wolves as a base, participants take part in physical activity and emotional wellbeing workshops as well as receiving individualised support. Thanks to her passion and drive, Melissa has gone above and beyond to help vulnerable young people in Warrington overcome difficult personal circumstances to become the best versions of themselves.
Our Wales regional winner Milford Youth Matters have developed a targeted detached Youth Provision, Under the Bridge, which aims to address community safety by engaging young people aged 11-18 from the local area of Milford Haven in diversionary activities during the school holidays. The project is delivered on a nightly basis, with each night involving a different activity or sport. Many of these activities are typically only offered in more urban areas and cost a lot of money to attend; in this project, however, everything was delivered for free and in the area in which young people already regularly congregate, opening up the opportunities to young people living in wards of multiple deprivation and supporting them to develop new skills and meet new people. Young people were also engaged in the planning and delivery process – from bid writing and budgeting to choosing the activities and promoting the programme to others.
StreetGames are passionate about the power of sport to enhance positive outcomes for vulnerable children, providing the practical and emotional support they need to grow and helping to keep them and their communities safe – and it was brilliant to see this celebrated across the country through our #Inspiration2022 awards. Congratulations again to all of our winners!
