StreetGames CEO Mark Lawrie OBE shares his thoughts on the government’s new 10 year health plan for England.

The government’s recently published 10-year health plan for England sets out an ambitious vision for transformational change across the NHS.

At StreetGames, we welcome this long-term commitment to improving health outcomes – particularly when it comes to tackling the deep-rooted inequalities that continue to affect communities across the country. With our 20 years of experience, we have an important role to play in ensuring that the voices of young people growing up in underserved communities are at the heart of the government’s agenda as they put their plan into action.

Tackling inequalities

The plan rightly highlights the growing gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and poorest in society: a gap that has persisted for far too long.

Last year, we commissioned the Association of Young People’s Health (AYPH) to conduct a research study exploring the health and well-being of young people living in low-income communities in England and Wales.

The findings were stark. On almost every measure, low income is associated with poorer health outcomes – from higher rates of disease and disability, to reduced access to services and support for managing long-term conditions. The report also highlighted significant disparities in mental health, obesity, diet, and nutrition, painting a clear picture of the challenges faced by young people growing up in underserved areas.

AYPH’s review of the policy landscape found that while there are high-level commitments to supporting young people and those living in poverty, in practice, this age group is often overlooked. While the government’s commitments laid out in the plan – to halving the life expectancy gap and raising the healthiest generation of children ever – are to be welcomed, these findings highlight that more must be done to translate these promises into action.

A pivotal role for physical activity

At StreetGames, we will always champion the multiple benefits that sport and physical activity can offer to children and young people living in underserved communities. These are not just leisure activities; they are powerful preventative tools that support physical health, mental wellbeing, and social connection. In 2024, our work enabled more than 92,000 children and young people to take part in life-enhancing Doorstep Sport and holiday activities provided by community organisations in the StreetGames network – but there are many more who are still missing out. There is an urgent need for targeted, community-led interventions that meet young people where they are.

Encouragingly, the government’s plan recognises this need, committing to a place-based approach to physical activity through a significant investment into local community sport facilities, as part of a new strategy for physical activity to be developed with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

We look forward to working with government and partners to ensure that these commitments are translated into practical, impactful policies that are developed in collaboration with young people and tailored to their needs.

A focus on mental health

Mental health remains a core concern for the young people we work with. In our Young Person’s Manifesto, which amplifies the voices of young people living in underserved communities across England and Wales, mental health was a top priority. Young people consistently called for more access to understanding adults: counsellors in schools, youth workers, and trusted figures who can offer support, listen, and advocate for their needs.

We were encouraged to see the government commit to expanding mental health support teams in schools and colleges, as well as embedding mental health services within the new Young Futures Hubs, which will support vulnerable young people who are at risk of being drawn into gangs, violence or knife crime.

At StreetGames, we have long recognised that community safety and mental wellbeing go hand in hand. We are proud to be a trusted partner on projects including the Youth Justice Sport Fund and local violence reduction programmes, championing a child first, preventative approach.

The Young Futures Hubs represent a vital opportunity to create safe, welcoming spaces where young people can access holistic support – but they must be backed by adequate resources and a genuine commitment to co-design with young people.

Looking ahead

The government’s 10-year health plan offers a real opportunity to reshape the future of health in England. The plan’s commitment to tackling inequalities in both access and outcomes speaks to the heart of what we do at StreetGames, and we are ready to play our part – bringing the power of sport, community, and youth voice to the forefront of efforts to build a healthier, fairer society.

Let’s make sure that no young person is left behind.

For media enquiries, please contact press@streetgames.org

Written by Kate Roberts, StreetGames Place Partnership Manager – North East, Yorkshire & Humber

The idea for Kit Out was sparked by something that the StreetGames team see all too often: young people with so much to gain from sport and physical activity, but who are held back by not having the right kit.

Lack of suitable sports kit – something that many of us take for granted – is a real and persistent barrier to participation. 74% of surveyed community sports leaders told us that young people are less likely to take part without the right kit. For young people growing up in low income, underserved communities, where opportunities to play sport and be active are already limited, this can make all the difference.

From a conversation between Sarah Tague (Active Humber) and I about the need for more to be done to address these challenges, Kit Out was born.

The project was developed with three key goals in mind:

• Tackling inequalities, by breaking down a key barrier to participation and enabling young people living in underserved communities to engage in Doorstep Sport
• Improving environmental sustainability, by reducing waste and diverting used clothes from landfills
• Strengthening place-based partnership working, by bringing together partners in place to pool capacity, assets and resources – creating a sustainable and shared local project

The project has its roots in Hull, where it launched in summer 2024. From collection and sorting, to stigma-free distribution, the system was built with community and partnership at its heart. In this first chapter alone, we were able to kit out over 300 young people – empowering them to be active, while also keeping more than 200kg of clothing from ending up in landfill.

With this successful pilot under our belts, the project has gone from strength to strength. Kit Out is now running biannually in Hull – and this summer, has taken its first steps into more locations across the North East.

This June, Kit Out was launched in Hartlepool for the first time. With 39% of children in the town living in poverty, the need for the initiative was clear. Teaming up with Hartlepool Sport, Reloved Clothing, and the Youth Sport Trust, we were able to open up donation points across Hartlepool.

The response from the local community was fantastic, including a huge donation of shoes, shirts and tops from Hartlepool United Community Sports Foundation. With summer holiday activities getting underway in the next couple of weeks, these donations come at a crucial time to ensure that local young people feel comfortable and confident to get involved and enjoy a happy, healthy holiday period.

This year has also seen the launch of Kit Out in Sunderland. With 12 donation points across the city, the project has been buoyed by the scale of partnerships involved – with Active Sunderland, RISE, Sported, Youth Sport Trust and the North East Combined Authority all working together to make it a huge success. With 224kg of kit donated, stakeholders and volunteers have worked swiftly to sort the donations and get them straight back out to and the young people they support.

We are thrilled that what started as a conversation between colleagues in Hull has gathered momentum at the pace that it has. We’ve created a replicable model that combines social impact with environmental action, and partnership working with wider community engagement.

With more Kit Out initiatives in the pipeline, both regionally and further afield, we can’t wait to expand the impact and continue supporting both young people and the environment – one t-shirt, tracksuit or trainer at a time.

What our partners are saying about Kit Out

“This is a fantastic way of giving a new lease of life to unwanted sports kit. It helps both those who want to get active but don’t have the kit and those who have it but no longer need it. We’re delighted it’s happening in Sunderland and our thanks go all the partners who are hosting donation boxes.” – Councillor Beth Jones, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Tourism at Sunderland City Council

“Sport and physical activity has so much to offer from a mental, physical and social health perspective, so to see organisations in the region working together to reduce barriers to participation is something we are delighted to support and fund as part of our mission to reduce child poverty.” – Charlotte Carpenter, Director of Skills, Inclusion & Public Service Reform at North East Combined Authority

“The HAF programme provides a valuable opportunity for many children and young people who face the challenges of deprivation and inequality to experience sport and physical activity, making it part of their regular holiday periods. The opportunity to continue their involvement beyond the school holiday is limited by numerous barriers, the cost of sports kit and equipment being one. Kit Out Hull provides a valuable resource to support young people to continue to play, train and enjoy sport and experience the ongoing social, health and wellbeing benefits which come with a healthy lifestyle.” – Kirsty Leake, Locality Programme Co-ordinator at Healthy Holidays Hull

Get involved

Do you want to get involved in an existing Kit Out project or discuss setting one up in your area? Please reach out to a member of your regional team or contact support@streetgames.org

You can also download our Kit Out How To Guide for more information on the approach and tips and resources for making it work in your area.

StreetGames CEO, Mark Lawrie OBE, introduces our People Plan: our commitment to developing and helping to grow our people, enabling us to achieve our mission.

At StreetGames, we recognise and celebrate our people as our most vital resource. Each and every one of our staff, contractors and trustees, whatever their role, plays a vital part in achieving our mission of transforming the lives of young people living in low-income, underserved communities through sport and physical activity. As a collective and as individuals, we are the people beside the people who change lives and communities – a mantra I refer to frequently and with immense pride.

We understand that to reach our goals as an organisation, it’s crucial that each of our people feels a strong sense of belonging, is truly valued, and has the tools and support needed for both personal and professional growth. In consultation with colleagues across the organisation, we have developed this People Plan to set out our commitment to understand and look after our people, helping us to grow a diverse team that loves what they do and are motivated and equipped to meet the changing needs of the people and communities that we work with.

I am proud to know that people enjoy working at StreetGames. The People Plan includes the results of surveys that highlight this, but I also see it personally on a daily basis in the way that our team lives by our values: by being people-centred, passionate, positive, pragmatic and courageous. We also know, however, that there is always more that can be done. We will not be complacent.

I am excited to share our Plan and look forward to working alongside each of our people as we bring it to life and continue to create lasting, positive change.

Read the StreetGames People Plan

The StreetGames People Plan has been developed in accordance with the Sport England People Plan for System Partners.

Written by Andres, StreetGames Young Advisor

For the first time in my life I started volunteering in sport late 2021, I had just started sixth form and had trouble finding a club to be part of. So a friend invited me to a local community centre (LS14 Trust) which offer free sessions every week to take part in all kinds of sports.

Going every week, eventually the Health and Sports Officer asked me and my friend if we wanted to be part of the ‘Sport leaders’ group to begin our journey in becoming young leaders within the world of sport, which was really exciting especially as a 16-year-old that was realising he was passionate about sport and youth.

As months went on StreetGames were looking for young people that were interested to join a programme called ‘NextGen’. I just remember feeling so full of joy and energy during and after the first introductory session of the programme. Because of the programme I was able to gain qualifications and experience that ended up helping me whenever I was helping with sport events and volunteering/coaching.

As a reward some of us from the community centre were invited to go to StreetGames’ 2022 Summer Camp, part of the #Inspiration2022 campaign. To say everyone including the Young Advisors did their job would be an understatement. As a result I applied to become a Young Advisor and have the privilege of working with StreetGames.

Becoming a Young Advisor was one of the best decisions I was presented with, and I was able to take part in youth voice to help our community, network with some great people from all over the UK and be part of huge events, such as the Brathay residential last October (2024). It was an incredible experience, with conversations, interactions and connections that I will take with me for the rest of my life.

Although a little bit older and happier, I’m not certain which career path I’m going down. What I do know is that StreetGames and volunteering overall, have carved more paths to walk through in the near future alongside people that will support me when needed.

StreetGames is pleased to have secured funding from the Welsh Government’s Child Poverty – Innovation and Supporting Communities Grant.

This significant investment will enable the delivery of an ambitious new project designed to tackle the root causes of child poverty by empowering young people through sport and community leadership.

The project, Doorstep Sport Activators (DSAs): Testing Opportunities for the Creation of Future Community Leaders, will be delivered across Merthyr Tydfil, Cardiff, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Bridgend, areas among the most underserved in Wales. 

The programme will train young people aged 16–24 as Doorstep Sport Activators, equipping them with leadership skills, employment readiness, and a platform to deliver fully funded, accessible sporting activities in their own communities.

This place-based, youth-led initiative aims to create positive role models, build community resilience, and expand access to volunteering and physical activity in areas where opportunities are often limited. 

Key Areas of Impact: 

• Tackling Poverty and Inequality: All programme activities, training, and equipment will be provided by StreetGames, removing financial barriers and supporting young people whose families face economic hardship. 

• Pathways Out of Poverty: Participants will gain valuable life skills, confidence, and employability support, including CV writing and interview preparation. 

• Supporting Wellbeing: The programme will increase access to physical activity and help build trusted relationships with mentors, supporting young people’s mental and social wellbeing. 

• Challenging Stigma: The project will work to break down negative perceptions around poverty, while creating inclusive, respectful environments led by young people from the communities they serve. 

• Community Collaboration: Delivered in partnership with six community organisations, the project will build strong, local networks to ensure sustainability and shared learning across the region. 

Gareth Winmill, Head of Doorstep Sport and Network Engagement at StreetGames, said: “We are proud to be working in partnership with local organisations across South Wales to create real, lasting change. This investment from the Welsh Government will help us empower the next generation of community leaders and ensure more young people can access life-enhancing opportunities through Doorstep Sport – a key end game goal of our 10-year strategy, Active for Today and Tomorrow.” 

The project will launch in June 2025 and run through to February 2026, culminating in a bilingual celebration and dissemination event to share learning and support replication across Wales. 

StreetGames and Lee Valley Regional Park Authority are proud to announce a new strategic partnership, launching in spring 2025, aimed at transforming opportunities for young people in underserved communities across London and the South East through sport and physical activity.

This partnership combines StreetGames’ deep roots in community engagement with Lee Valley’s iconic venues and shared commitment to making sport and activity accessible to everyone. By working together, we’re aiming to break down barriers, boost wellbeing, and give young people more chances to get active, feel connected, and look forward to a brighter future.

A Shared Mission for Change

StreetGames is a national charity dedicated to building healthier, safer, and more successful communities by making sport and physical activity more accessible for young people in low-income areas. Its Doorstep Sport approach takes the right activities to the right places, meeting young people where they are and developing new opportunities.

Lee Valley’s 2023–2026 Sport and Active Recreation Strategy shares this commitment, with a focus on targeted interventions, access to world-class venues, and embedding physical activity into everyday life.

Key Aims of the Partnership

• Expand access to sport for underserved young people
• Support grassroots activity through grant funding
• Bring communities closer to iconic Olympic venues
• Bespoke staff training on engaging young people
• Share insights to improve practice across the sector

What’s Coming Up

Community Access Fund & Active Communities Grant Scheme
These funds help community partners deliver local sport and activity experiences at Lee Valley sites.

Major Event Legacy Projects
We’re building connections between big events and local communities — through volunteering, fan experiences, and youth engagement.

Lee Valley Ice Centre Community Commitments
A 10-year plan focused on education, crime prevention, apprenticeships, and health & wellbeing.

Workforce Development & Training
StreetGames will provide expert-led training to help venue staff connect more meaningfully with young people.

This partnership is also about creating long-term change and developing new opportunities for young people. At its heart is a commitment to helping more young people from low-income backgrounds stay active, healthy, and connected. It’s also about creating inspirational pathways into sport, whether through volunteering, leadership, or participation, so that young people can see a future for themselves in the spaces where they’ve often been overlooked. By championing inclusive practices across the sport sector and sharing learning and innovation, the partnership aims to use shared expertise to influence policy and programme design, not just for now, but for years to come.

“This partnership allows us to turn our shared commitment to tackling inequality through sport into real, visible change. We’re reaching the young people traditional models often miss — and giving them reasons to believe they belong in these spaces.” — Craig McFadyen, Sport Partnerships and Inspiration Campaign Manager, StreetGames

“We believe sport and physical activity should be for everyone. This partnership with StreetGames means more young people will see our world class sport and leisure venues as places where they belong – where they can try new experiences, be active and inspired..” — Paul Coates, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority

We are looking to form a Youth Advisory Group on behalf of the Children’s Coaching Collaborative (CCC) to truly embed young people and their voices within the sector.

About the CCC

The Children’s Coaching Collaborative (CCC) is a group of organisations who together have established guiding principles and a purpose to improve the experiences of coaching for children and young people by embedding the UN convention on the Rights of the Child into sports provision.  

About the opportunity

We know that when children and young people have a voice, choice and ownership of their journey when participating in physical activity, they are more likely to develop a lifelong love of being active.  

Through the Youth Advisory Group, we will explore opportunities for you to share your experiences, views and opinions on sports coaching, and support you with developing your knowledge on your rights and understanding of the sector to help you in your role. 

You will be supported by a team of StreetGames staff, and staff from wider partners of the CCC. You will receive a detailed induction, and training to help you build your skills and confidence to express your voice in a safe environment. 

Why get involved?

• It’ll be fun!  
• Get your voice heard – share your views and experiences  
• Make a difference – amplify the voices of young people to shape practice, advocate for change and influence initiatives that impact your peers 
• Opportunity to improve your confidence, experience and employability skills 
• Grow your network – connect with other young people, professionals and other people within the sport & physical activity 
• Opportunity to travel within the UK 

What StreetGames will provide:

• All your travel, accommodation and food will be paid for (for face to face meetings) 
• Free Young Advisors kit 
• A reference and support on building your CV 

What will I be doing?

You will be part of a Youth Advisory group that will meet regularly to inform and make decisions for the CCC about what matters in coaching sport and physical activity, with a young person-centred approach. 

We expect participants to: 

• Commit to up to 12 months of their time 
• Participate in regular meetings, with the option to attend wider CCC meetings 
• Be available for up to two face-to-face meetings per year 
• Take part in and work as a team with other Young Advisors 
• Be interested in shaping the experience of young people in community & sport settings 

Who is it for?

We are looking for Young People who are : 

• Aged 14 – 18* 
• Able to commit for 9-12 months, attending monthly online & up to two face-to-face meetings per year 
• Interested in shaping the experience of young people in community & sport settings 

*We welcome applications from all young people. We are particularly interested in applications from young people with varied experiences, including any of the following:  

• having additional needs, disabilities or neuro-diversity  
• from an ethnically minoritised group  
• is/was eligible for Free School Meals  
• experience of the criminal justice system  
• care experienced or having care responsibilities   
• negative experiences of sport and coaching  

How to apply?

There are three different choices for submitting an application: 

• Video submission
• Written answers 
• Recorded Teams call with a member of the CCC Youth Voice team.

Please complete this personal information form and submit your application preferences.

This application form is designed to help us identify those best suited to becoming a Young Advisor. We anticipate that the form should take about 10-20 minutes of your time to complete.  The application questions for all three methods are: 

1. Please tell us why you are interested in this opportunity.
2. What skills and experience will you bring to the team? 
3. Please could you explain why you feel that young people participating in shaping opportunities for them is so important? 
4. How would being a Young Advisor have an impact on you? 

Need more information or have any questions?

Please get in touch with us via: 

• Email: volunteering@streetgames.org 
• Call/message: Kath (07767 584578) or Kendle (07485 373007) 

For many young people growing up in underserved communities, the world of elite sport can feel distant and inaccessible, whether due to geography, cost, or a lack of representation. That’s why the StreetGames Inspiration campaign is working to change the narrative, by connecting young people to the power and possibility of major sporting events.

At the 2025 Aquatics GB Swimming Championships, held at the iconic London Aquatics Centre at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, young people from across the StreetGames South East network were given the chance to not just witness, but take part in a day packed with world-class sport and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

These championships brought together Britain’s top Olympic Pathway and Para-swimmers in a fully integrated programme of heats and finals, with World Championship team selection on the line. For many of the young people attending, it was their first time seeing elite sport up close, an experience that can light the spark of ambition, inspire confidence, and create a sense of belonging in spaces they may have previously felt excluded from.

Thanks to the StreetGames Inspiration campaign, young people from community organisations including Track Academy, Burgess Sports, Beyond the Bias, and Salaam Peace were able to experience the full spectrum of what a major sporting event has to offer.

The day offered young people from the StreetGames network a unique, all-access experience at the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships  from cheering in the stands and soaking up the atmosphere, to swimming in the Olympic pool themselves, and even volunteering behind the scenes as part of the Athlete Kit Team. Each activity gave participants a different way to engage with elite sport, helping them feel included, inspired, and part of the action.

Launched in 2022, the StreetGames Inspiration campaign is designed to break down the cultural and financial barriers that too often prevent young people from accessing the world of sport.

Craig McFadyen, Sport Partnerships and Inspiration Campaign Manager at StreetGames, said: “Major sporting events have the power to change lives, but often they feel completely out of reach for the young people we work with. That’s what makes days like this so powerful. It’s about showing them that they belong here, that this world is theirs too as participants, leaders, fans, and everything in between.”

Yvonne Simpson from Track Academy said: “We’re incredibly proud of the young people from Track Academy who formed part of the athlete kit team at the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships. Their professionalism and enthusiasm were praised by both officials and organisers, a real credit to them. We’re so thankful for this opportunity and look forward to building on this fantastic partnership.”

Inspired by this story?
If you’re an event organiser looking to create lasting community impact, or a Locally Trusted Organisation keen to connect young people with the world of elite sport, we’d love to hear from you. Contact our Inspiration Campaign Lead  – craig.mcfadyen@streetgames.org 

We were delighted to welcome this year’s Award winners to a special celebration event in London on 14th March.

Hosted at the headquarters of our partners Team GB in central London, the event was an opportunity to hear more about our winners’ incredible efforts across a broad range of work – from community safety initiatives and projects tackling holiday hunger and inactivity, to the championing of youth voice. Each winner was presented with a trophy and certificate, along with some fantastic Team GB kit.

It was a pleasure to be joined at the event by Team GB athletes Abigail Irozuru, Peter Speight and Rachel Smith, who presented the winners with their awards alongside key partners from across the Sport for Development sector. The athletes also took part in a panel to share more about their own journeys and the importance of community sport and coaches in their success.

The event provided a brilliant opportunity for networking, with winners from different parts of the country exchanging ideas and inspiration, as well as connecting with StreetGames’ supporters and partners including Sport England, Sport Wales, the LTA and Greater London Authority.

Suffia Hussain, England winner of the Outstanding Work in Community Safety Award, said of the event: “When you create an environment like this, an opportunity to hear about all the amazing work and how much it means to everyone – for me, it was just inspiring. We’re all trying to make a difference, unlock that potential. That’s what keeps me going.”

Chantel Armstrong from Open House, England winner of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Award, added: “Winning this award is an incredible honour, and we are truly grateful for the recognition. The celebration event was a fantastic experience. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.”

Jen Rouse, Managing Director of the British Olympic Foundation, said: “Everyone at Team GB has been really inspired by the winners’ stories and the incredible impact that they are having in their local communities. The celebration event has been a brilliant opportunity for us to honour their hard work and to demonstrate the power of our ongoing partnership with StreetGames.”

UK Sport has announced its first-ever Event Social Impact Partners for the LA cycle – four organisations who share their vision to use the platform of major events to power positive change.

In Making Live Sport Matter, a new major event strategic framework, UK Sport committed to continuing to embed social impact into events as a priority.

First introduced at their annual Event Partners Day 2025, UK Sport have revealed the four new partnerships with specialists who will be able to support the organisers of funded events. StreetGames are delighted to be one of these partners, along with Access Sport, Coach Core Foundation, and Loughborough University.

UK Sport Head of Events Esther Britten said: “Our ambition is to use the platform of major events hosted in the UK to deliver meaningful, societal change into host communities.

“By establishing these partnerships and making them available to the sector, we believe that they will supercharge work already being carried out by event hosting partners or help deliver on their ambitions that they don’t have capacity to achieve.

“These four organisations have the expertise, networks and influence to make a real difference in this area.”

What are Event Social Impact Partners?
Every event that UK Sport invests National Lottery funding into must have social impact at its heart and deliver positive, lasting change across areas including health and wellbeing, employment skills and EDI, alongside embedding environmental sustainability into event operations.

To support major events in their ambitions and relieve pressure on event managers, Event Social Impact Partners will deliver scalable, evidence-based initiatives across UK Sport’s events programme.

Providing support from bidding to delivery and beyond, the four partners will improve the capacity and capability of major event organisers to positively impact lives.

The focus of UK Sport’s work with StreetGames will be to connect young people with opportunities to spectate, volunteer and participate at events.

CEO Mark Lawrie said: “Since 2007, StreetGames has harnessed the power of sport to create positive change in the lives of young people living in underserved communities right across the UK. What’s really exciting about being a UK Sport Social Impact Partner and working with the major events is the breadth of opportunity we’ll be able to bring to people in multiple parts of the UK.

“We want to connect young people who live in some of our poorest communities into these events so that they can spectate and experience that major event atmosphere. They may get opportunities to volunteer around the events which will develop their skills and teamwork experience and also get the opportunity to participate in some of the sports that they watch.”