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.”

A collaboration between StreetGames, Your Trust and Rochdale Youth Service has supported girls and young women to have their say on sport and physical activity in their local area.

Your Trust is a charity based at the heart of the community in Rochdale borough, and a member of the StreetGames network in the North West. Their mission is to support people to live active, creative, happy and healthy lives. A core part of their vision is for women and girls to feel empowered in their local community.

With this goal in mind, the organisation drew on the support of StreetGames and Rochdale Youth Service to organise an interactive youth voice activity for young women and girls to directly contribute to Your Trust’s plans for developing their physical activity offer.

On 21st February, around 20 girls and young women from the local area were invited to take part in a ‘walk and talk’ activity, starting from Heywood Leisure Centre and taking in local parks and recreational facilities. Participants were encouraged to identify the areas that felt safe and unsafe for them, and the reasons for this – sharing their initial perceptions and reactions through conversations with staff as well as taking photos to visually illustrate any opportunities or barriers identified.

After returning to the leisure centre, participants were invited to reflect in smaller groups on what they had seen, alongside their day-to-day experiences of participating in physical activity and local youth provision. Their feedback provided an invaluable insight into some of the barriers faced by girls and young women around sport and physical activity, as well as their unique experiences of different leisure facilities including parks, youth clubs and leisure centres – with issues identified including:

• Lack of lights and security cameras in parks
• Uncertainty about how to use facilities at leisure centres
• A need for more staff trained in supporting young people with additional needs
• Lack of confidence taking part in physical activity in front of strangers

This feedback will feed directly into Your Trust’s decision-making process, ensuring that plans are made with users’ needs right at the heart.

Following the youth voice session, Heywood Leisure Centre hosted a multi-sport festival for girls aged 11-19, with all activities planned by a steering group of female young leaders. A fantastic 106 attendees took part in sports and activities including dodgeball, spin classes and a silent disco. StreetGames also facilitated a Youth Voice activity which gave participants the chance to share their ideas and designs for a new Youth Zone on the leisure centre site, with their sketches and notes feeding directly into the plans – again placing youth voice at the centre.

We were delighted to contribute our expertise and experience around engaging women and girls, intersectionality, and youth voice and engagement, and look forward to continuing to support Your Trust in their forward-thinking and inclusive mission.

StreetGames is proud to join forces with Matchroom Boxing as the latest Matchroom in the Community partner, kicking off an exciting fight week with one of Manchester’s biggest grassroots boxing events.

More than 200 local children and young people were invited to a special community boxing celebration at Co-op Live, the state-of-the-art arena that will host Jack Catterall’s WBO Interim World Super Lightweight Championship clash with Arnold Barboza Jr. this Saturday.

As a charity dedicated to connecting young people from low-income, underserved communities with access to sport, StreetGames will use this partnership to bring boxing to thousands more young people across the country, supported by a significant donation from the Matchroom Charitable Foundation through its StreetGames Inspiration Campaign.

A Three-Year Commitment to Expanding Access to Boxing

This long-term partnership will open doors for young people to participate at the grassroots level while also bridging the gap to the elite side of the sport. The initiative will:

• Inspire young people to take up boxing.
• Expand access to participation, spectating, and volunteering.
• Help young people develop skills, confidence, and career opportunities.
• Strengthen the partnership between StreetGames and Matchroom Boxing for lasting impact.

Over the next three years, StreetGames will support community organisations within its network by providing training, equipment, and funding to help deliver regular boxing sessions, taster events, and informal activities. Young people will also have the opportunity to attend major boxing events and experiences, giving them access to a sport that is often out of reach.

Additionally, the programme will provide volunteering and work experience opportunities, helping young people develop essential skills both in and out of the ring. By combining StreetGames’ expertise in community sport with Matchroom Boxing’s platform, this collaboration will make boxing more accessible than ever before.

A Spectacular Launch in Manchester

The partnership launched in style on Monday night, as hundreds of young people aged 10-16 from across Manchester took part in a special boxing taster session. The event showcased fun and innovative ways to introduce boxing, ensuring that young people of all backgrounds feel welcome in the sport.

Some of the fighters from the upcoming Catterall vs. Barboza Jr. blockbuster fight night, including Zelfa Barrett, William Crolla, and Conner Tudsbury, were on hand to help guide and inspire the young participants. Chris Webb, Member of Parliament for Blackpool South, also attended to show his support and share words of encouragement with the young people in attendance.

Through this partnership, StreetGames and Matchroom Boxing are working together to create life-changing opportunities for young people, ensuring they have access to boxing, whether as participants, spectators, or future industry professionals.

Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn said: “This partnership isn’t just about participation. it’s about inspiring young people by bringing them to major events and offering work experience within the industry. Through the Matchroom Charitable Foundation, we’re making a significant investment in StreetGames because we believe in their mission to take sport into communities that need it most.”

StreetGames CEO Mark Lawrie said: “Through our partnership with Matchroom, we are bringing real, mainstream sports like boxing into communities where young people often can’t access them. While some may go on to become future stars, the most important thing is that they now have the same opportunities as others—opportunities that could be life-changing.”

Alex Le Guével, Matchroom’s Head of Community Development, added: “We’ve been working with StreetGames for some time, supporting young people from low-income communities across three key areas. This initiative ensures that youngsters have access to the sport in trusted local spaces, empowering them with the confidence, discipline and opportunity to be the best they can be. It’s exciting to introduce more young people to the benefits of the sport.”