We are delighted to announce that the Social Biobehavioural Research Group will be the new hosts of the Social Prescribing Youth Network (SPYN). 

 From 2018 to now…

 The Social Prescribing Youth Network (SPYN) was developed by StreetGames in 2018. Over the last six years, SPYN has gained more than 1,300 members and has had notable achievements including delivering resources and training.

This process has now concluded and we are pleased to announce that the Social Biobehavioural Research Group at University College London will be the new hosts of SPYN moving forward. UCL will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to this network and are hoping to grow it further in order to support increased social prescribing for children and young people across the country.

Four key individuals will be involved in the day-to-day running of SPYN:

1. Dr Daniel Hayes, an expert in youth social prescribing who will head up the network.
2. Prof Daisy Fancourt who will provide expertise in running large networks, having led the £1.25 million UKRI MARCH network and 70-country COVID-Minds network.
3. Rachel Marshall who manages research communications and impact work for UCL SBB, and
4. Nikita Arslanovski who coordinates communications and finance for the team.

Dr Daniel Hayes commented:
“Children and young people’s mental and physical health has reached a crisis point. Despite this significant need for youth social prescribing, and growing momentum and interest, its potential is unrealised. Provision is patchy and pockets of good practice remain isolated, with a lack of awareness or joined up working from the policymakers, researchers, healthcare practitioners and community assets that are fundamental for social prescribing to succeed.

SPYN is a fantastic network that has the potential to drive work in this space forwards by mobilising stakeholders, providing training and networking opportunities, and sharing good practice. We are very excited to build on our existing knowledge and partnerships in this field and take SPYN to the next level in terms of impact. We hope you will join us on this journey!”

Stuart Felce, UK Director of Strategic Business Relationships at StreetGames, commented:
“The transition of the Social Prescribing Youth Network (SPYN) to the Social Biobehavioural Research Group marks an exciting new chapter in its development. At StreetGames, we are incredibly proud to have established SPYN and grown it into a thriving network of over 1,300 members since 2018.

This move ensures that SPYN receives the dedicated focus it deserves to further its vital work in supporting the health and wellbeing of children and young people through social prescribing. While the network will now be hosted by one of the leading national experts in the field, StreetGames remains deeply committed to advancing youth social prescribing, particularly through our focus on sport and physical activity.”

How to get involved with SPYN

The Social Biobehavioural Research Group team are currently busy planning and look forward to sharing further updates, opportunities and activities for SPYN members in the New Year.

New members can join the Network here to receive future updates about the expanding world of social prescribing for children and young people. Our newsletter will bring you the latest research, resources, events, training and more – all directly to your inbox.

Membership is free and open to all those interested in bringing social prescribing and its benefits to the younger generations. Whether you are a Link Worker, social prescribing coordinator, voluntary and community worker, commissioner, funder, health professional across primary or secondary care, or a researcher – join SPYN and be a part of the youth social prescribing movement in the UK and beyond.

If you have any SPYN-related queries you can get in touch with the team at: spyn@ucl.ac.uk.

The StreetGames Awards are back for 2024, shining a spotlight on the outstanding individuals and organisations using sport and physical activity to make a difference in our communities.

Nominations are open now, and we need your help once more in highlighting the transformational power of sport for development in communities across England and Wales.

Winners will be selected across eight categories, including a new category for 2024 celebrating your Youth Voice Champions.

Nominations will close on Sunday 15th December, after which our judging panel will draw up a shortlist of finalists and select the winners within each category. Winners will be announced early next year, and invited to a special celebration event to take place in March.

Mark Lawrie, StreetGames Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to once again celebrate the fantastic achievements of our network and the transformative power of Doorstep Sport with this year’s StreetGames Sport for Development Awards. Please do get involved by nominating your local changemakers and helping us to honour their outstanding stories of impact and inspiration.”

The full list of categories for 2024 is:

• Coach/Volunteer of the Year
• Doorstep Sport Project of the Year
• #HolidaysMatter Award for Outstanding Holiday Activities Project
• Mental Health and Wellbeing Award
• Outstanding Work in Community Safety Award
• Us Girls Award for Engaging Women and Girls
• Young Volunteer of the Year
• Youth Voice Champion

Discover more about each of this year’s categories and submit your nominations.

StreetGames has announced the launch of its National Governing Bodies Offer, a support initiative designed to help NGBs of sport reach young people in low-income, underserved communities. This offer invites NGBs to join the StreetGames network, providing them with resources, connections, and expertise to engage more effectively with these young people and create lasting, positive change in their lives. 

StreetGames, an organisation dedicated to improving the lives of underserved young people through accessible sports and physical activity, aims to level the playing field for young people who face barriers to participation. By partnering with NGBs and the wider sports sector, StreetGames strives to create a sustainable shift in how mainstream sports providers interact with youth from underserved communities. The offer is part of this mission, providing NGBs with an evidence-based approach built on StreetGames’ 15 years of experience in Doorstep Sport. 

The Doorstep Sport model—at the heart of StreetGames’ approach—is designed to bring sports directly to young people in a way that resonates with them, promoting not just physical health but also resilience, social connections, and personal growth. By enabling NGBs to adopt Doorstep Sport principles, StreetGames seeks to build capacity within the sports sector to provide accessible, inclusive, and engaging sports programmes for young people in underserved communities. 

Why Join the StreetGames Network? 

Joining the StreetGames network connects NGBs with a community of like-minded partners, practical tools, and resources, while providing pathways for NGBs to develop their strategies for reaching underserved young people. The offer supports NGBs in creating opportunities that meet young people where they are, helping ensure that every child, regardless of background, has the chance to engage in meaningful physical activity. 

By supporting sports providers in adapting their practices, StreetGames hopes to address the pressing inequality in sports access and inspire sustainable change across the sector. For interested NGBs, more information can be found on the new Changing Sport – The StreetGames Approach with National Governing Bodies landing page. 

The British Citizen Youth Award celebrates the individual endeavours of young people from across the UK who are positively impacting their communities, helping charities or undertaking exceptional activities in support of others.

Now in its ninth year, this year’s Award honoured 21 young people dedicated to making a difference – including Emilie Violet Allen, aged 15, from South Wales.

Emilie is a gymnast and coach at Valleys Gymnastics Academy (VGA), an active member of the StreetGames network in Wales. For the past three years, Emilie has devoted her holidays to delivering StreetGames-funded Fit and Fed sessions at VGA, as well as coaching during evenings and weekends. She is also a passionate advocate for disability in sport, competing as a partially deaf athlete with the World Championship-winning Team Wales Adaptive Abilities team.

Alongside her coaching and a busy training schedule, Emilie also volunteers for Gwent Police Cadets and is a devoted Caregiver to her disabled Mum.

She now plans to put the skills that she has gained from StreetGames training and her community volunteering in practice on a trip to Ghana in summer 2025 to teach skills to young children in a remote orphanage.

Emilie is a true inspiration to aspiring young athletes of all abilities, nurturing their ambition and putting their mental health and wellbeing first. She shows her community that anything is possible with the right support around you.

On 17th October, Emilie received her British Citizen Youth Award Medal of Honour at the official presentation ceremony at Westminster Palace. Alongside her medal, she is now able to use the post-nominals BCyA in recognition of her fantastic achievements and commitment to others.

Claire Lane, StreetGames National Director for Wales, said: “On behalf of everyone at StreetGames, I’d like to congratulate Emilie and say how proud we are of her achievements. We’re so pleased that her passion and fantastic contributions to her community have been recognised in this way, and are excited to see her continue to go from strength to strength in her next steps.”

The Opening School Facilities (OSF) initiative was launched in early 2023 to provide funding for schools to open up their facilities outside of the school day, giving pupils and people from the local community more opportunities to move and helping them to access a wider range of physical activities. 

As part of the second year of the project, StreetGames undertook a series of Youth Voice consultation sessions with students in OSF schools. The sessions were carefully designed to enable them to be delivered in a fun and active way, ensuring that young people not only enjoyed the sessions, but were fully engaged throughout.  

The sessions were aimed at students identified by the school as inactive or not engaged in sport and physical activity. The aim of the sessions was to find out more about how these young people wanted their community sports provision to look, including activities, style, time and place.  

Read more about the Youth Voice research

Throughout the next phase of StreetGames’ OSF work, we will work closely with consortium partners Active Partnerships, Youth Sport Trust and UK Active to help schools to use the findings of the Youth Voice sessions to enhance their community sports provision and ensure their offer is accessible to all students.  

Our role within OSF over the coming year will focus on three key areas of work: 

1. Youth Voice: Supporting schools to interpret Youth Voice research and develop their community sports provision for young people in their community.
2. Community Connectivity: Supporting our network of locally trusted organisations to connect to OSF schools.
3. Training & Workforce Development: Through our Training Academy, we will provide opportunities for Active Partnerships and schools to upskill their workforce, with the aim of enhancing the community sports provision available for young people in underserved communities. We will also support schools to access leadership and training courses for their students.

Arissa is a StreetGames Young Advisor and a member of the team that worked on developing our Youth Manifesto. Here, she tells us in her own words about her experience of an opportunity that StreetGames were able to offer as part of our Inspiration campaign thanks to Matchroom Boxing.

Having become involved with StreetGames last year through my role as a Young Advisor, recently I was fortunate enough to be invited to a Matchroom Boxing event at Manchester’s AO Arena where I got to go backstage and meet some incredible people that I idolise and look up to. I was honoured to meet some amazing people, including one of the night’s winners Rhiannon Dixon as well as Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn, Manchester City player John Stones, The Stomping Ground founder Charlie Parsons, commentator Steve Bunce and boxers Sunny Edwards and Anthony Crolla.

The entire night was a dream. I saw some fantastic fights, and being backstage and getting to see how everything is so well thought out made me enjoy the experience even more. I was grateful for all the fighters and people who I spoke to for taking time out of their day to have a chat.

Rhiannon Dixon became world champion that night, and seeing it happen with my own eyes made me want to dream and aim for the same thing. I met people who I know will be a part of my life in the future and will help me achieve everything I want to.

None of this would have been possible without StreetGames and Alex Le Guevel at Matchroom Boxing and I would like to thank them for giving me this opportunity. My love for boxing has only grown and as a Young Advisor for StreetGames I have many new ideas which include boxing that I would love to share.

It was definitely a night I will never forget and I’m forever thankful to everybody who made it happen. I look forward to working with StreetGames and Alex in the future to see how far I can get. That night proved that anything is possible if you are committed enough and have enough passion.

The impact of young volunteers within communities is immeasurable, and the recent announcement of the Young Volunteer of the Year regional winners by StreetGames underscores the profound influence of these dedicated individuals. From London and the Southeast to the tranquil landscapes of Wales and the bustling cities of the North, these exceptional young volunteers have showcased unwavering commitment, dedication, and a passion for community development. Let’s dive into their incredible stories and the impact they have made in their respective regions:

London and Southeast:

Zakariya Rahman, Ekota Academy: Zakariya’s journey from participant to a dedicated volunteer at Ekota Academy stands as a testament to his unwavering commitment and personal growth. Through his active involvement in coaching workshops and leadership training, Zakariya has not only enhanced his sports skills but has also become an inspiring mentor, fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment at Ekota Academy.

North East:

Rashvin Ramanathas, Young Asian Voices: Rashvin’s remarkable journey began with a simple desire to make friends and boost his confidence. Accumulating over 400 hours of volunteering, Rashvin has significantly contributed to various levels of cricket training sessions, fostering team spirit and encouraging inclusivity. His patient and welcoming demeanor has created a nurturing environment for others to thrive.

North West:

Kamal Williams, Hideaway Project: Kamal’s journey with the Hideaway Project has been marked by significant personal growth and leadership development. From reserved participation to becoming a peer leader during the pandemic, Kamal has showcased unwavering commitment and reliability, leaving a lasting impact on the community.

Yorkshire:

Andreas Ramirez: Andreas’s consistent dedication and invaluable support in the successful delivery of multiple sessions have been instrumental in ensuring the smooth operation of various activities.

North and South Wales:

Ella Jenkins and Cerys Parry: Ella and Cerys have made a significant impact in their local community through their commitment to delivering weekly football and basketball sessions. Their collaborative efforts with local authorities, the police, and the youth service have demonstrated their dedication to breaking down barriers and fostering a love for sports among participants.

South Wales:

Lara Birtles, StreetGames: Lara’s journey with StreetGames began with her instrumental role in securing funding for community sessions. Her leadership skills and unwavering commitment have positioned her as an exemplary role model in her community.

These remarkable young volunteers have not only made a difference in their communities but have also set an inspiring example for others to follow. Their dedication and passion for community development serve as a beacon of hope for a brighter and more inclusive future.

Written by Claire Lane, National Director, Wales

StreetGames recently published our 1,000 Young Voices report, a major new survey of 1,000 young people commissioned to better understand the key issues and the similarities and differences amongst young people from lower-income households and the challenges that they face when it comes to accessing sport and physical activity.

We know all too well that young people growing up in low-income households and in under-served communities often experience inequalities of opportunity & participation. The underlying causes and issues of these broader inequalities are complex – some of the resulting barriers are ‘material’ (e.g. cost, transport, access to facilities) whilst others are deeply psychological. Some issues have been made worse by the pandemic and the current cost of living crisis.

The knowledge obtained through this new research has real value in understanding the current landscape when it comes to participation in sport and offers valuable insight into how to better engage different segments of the population going forward. And while 72% said that they enjoy taking part in sport and 75% want to do more, currently only a quarter of those surveyed specifically said they spend their time playing sport. It’s clear that access to sport still lags behind appetite.

Some of this is understandably down to the ongoing cost of living crisis. Over a third of participants feel the Cost of Living crisis has negatively affected how much they take part in sport and physical activity. This figure is especially high amongst those with caring responsibilities with half saying they do less, whilst also being significantly higher than average for those who are Neurodivergent and/or have a Physical Disability. But the research also went deeper in seeking out the different motivations and barriers that young people have when it comes to getting involved, from lack of confidence in taking part, to those who attend more for the social side than the sport itself. Key to increasing participation across the board is providing an offer that ensures that whatever your main drive for coming along, there is something available to suit.

As StreetGames’ National Director for Wales, I’m heartened by the work the Welsh Government has been doing in recent years to put health and wellbeing front and centre in their policies and approach. We are all working towards making the Vision for Sport in Wales a reality, where we have transformed Wales into an active nation where everyone can have a lifelong enjoyment of sport, and as a National Partner to Sport Wales we’re committed to working collaboratively to make this happen.  Core to this is helping to deliver on the seven well-being goals that form the central mission of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act. That Act, the first of its kind in the UK, gives a legally binding common purpose – the seven well-being goals – for national government, local government, local health boards and other specified public bodies. It details the ways in which specified public bodies must work, and work together to improve the well-being of Wales. Our own work strongly correlates with three of these wellbeing goals:

• Healthier Wales,
• More Equal Wales,
• A Wales of cohesive communities

Each of these goals could also benefit from the new insight provided by the 1,000 Young Voices report, in particular its research on the seven segments of young people that capture the motivators, barriers, and associated emotions that young people experience in relation to sport. From those who lack confidence around getting involved, to those whose sport as a valuable way to destress, we all have different reasons for wanting to get involved in sport and it’s important to develop an offer that appeals to as many different motivators as possible. By harnessing this 1,000 voices insight we can continue to build on our Doorstep Sport offer to ensure everyone can be active in a way that provides enjoyment.

The recently published annual report for 2022/23 from The Children’s Commissioner for Wales contains recommendations to tackle child poverty that speak directly to the findings from the 1,000 young voices insight. The Commissioner is recommending to Welsh Government that there is increased investment in play, sports & leisure facilities, and youth support, as well as free bus travel for all children. Our insight shows that over 20% state that they have no way of getting to activity sessions, and three quarters want to do more.

At our recent Network Events in both North and South Wales, there was a real buzz in the room when sharing the insight, and discussing the seven segments. Many of our Locally Trusted Organisations (LTOs) across Wales are doing fantastic work to provide a varied and vibrant Doorstep Sport offer that caters for many different young people, but they also recognised that they need support from the wider sector to diversify the offer further. When asked what StreetGames should do to activate the insight, and particularly the 7 segments, the overwhelming response was to support NGBs to understand it and work with LTOs to create new ways for young people to participate locally.

We have a fantastic track record of working with NGBs in Wales and have a rich history of co-creating products and interventions with a wide range of sports. This new insight will help us to go further to challenge and positively disrupt the mainstream sport sector, and provide opportunities to create meaningful change to tackle the stubborn inequalities that young people living in low-income, underserved communities face, when it comes to accessing sport and physical activity opportunities.

If you want to know more about the work we do in Wales, or are an NGB that wants to collaborate then please get in touch at wales@streetgames.org

Written by: Rhiannon Sheen de Jesus 

At the end of July, StreetGames Wales took part in their now annual Dragons Den pitch day, supported by SEWSCAP and SEWH. The event was the mid-point in what will become an 18-month project to support young people living in areas of poverty across South East Wales to get their voices heard, and take action. The project includes working with a range of Locally Trusted Organisations (LTOs) in the StreetGames network to help them identify young people to become peer researchers. These magnificent young people then undergo a series of training workshops and receive support to help them investigate a research project, and ultimately develop a business proposal to tackle their local issues. This year’s research theme was around developing attractive sport and/or physical activity offers for young people living in underserved communities, engaging around 20 peer researchers from six LTOs. The team in Wales have worked tirelessly to support the peer research groups locally, and all four dragons (judges) were blown away by the pitches delivered. The young people they met gave them so much hope for the future and how this funding could make a massive impact on the young people’s lives in underserved communities.

Each group was given 15 minutes to pitch for up to £15,000 and had to produce and submit a business plan, detailed budget and risk analysis. The groups ranged from 16 years old to 24, and feedback from the dragons stated that some of these proposals were the best they had ever seen! With well-written proposals, a brilliant analysis of the research undertaken and such detailed budgets, the dragons were all blown away in different ways by different groups. One group talked openly about their personal challenges to accessing sport and physical activity and how they want to ensure other girls in their community don’t face the same struggles. Another group talked about how anti-social behaviour and youth violence had rocketed since covid, and is causing real problems. Their simple intervention will make real and lasting change possible for their peers.

Why are we sharing this? Youth voice is an integral part of everything we do at StreetGames. By engaging, upskilling and supporting young people in local communities, we are shifting the power. The power that changes the lives of young people and their communities by offering them a way of expressing their concerns in a safe and empowering atmosphere. A place where local issues can be shared and acted upon to create meaningful change. This also has a positive impact on the peer researchers, who develop many soft skills and hard skills to further their personal and career development.

As a result of this project, the peer researchers have been successful in obtaining funding to tackle the issues they face in their local community through DoorStep Sport provision, with over £75,000 being invested into 6 underserved communities.

Our Partnership Fundraising manager in Wales, Kevin Roberts says: ‘We are delighted to be able to continue our excellent relationship with SEWSCAP & SEWH, and to be able to provide more young people with access to high quality, evidence-led Doorstep Sport sessions in underserved communities in South Wales. Our innovative partnership has resulted in over £75,000 being invested into organisations across the region, using the peer research methodology which will have a lasting effect on the young people involved, beyond the life of their projects. We are incredibly grateful to SEWSCAP & SEWH for their continued support, and look forward to seeing the projects develop over the months ahead.’

Ar ddiwedd mis Gorffennaf, cymerodd StreetGames Wales ran yn eu diwrnod maes blynyddol den y dreigiau, gyda chefnogaeth SEWSCAP a SEWH. Roedd y digwyddiad yn ganolbwynt i’r hyn a ddaw yn brosiect 18 mis i gefnogi pobl ifanc sy’n byw mewn ardaloedd o dlodi ar draws De-ddwyrain Cymru i leisio’u barn, a gweithredu. Mae’r prosiect yn cynnwys gweithio gydag amrywiaeth o Sefydliadau y mae Ymddiriedolaethau Lleol (LTOs) yn eu helpu i adnabod pobl ifanc i ddod yn ymchwilwyr cymheiriaid. Yna mae’r bobl ifanc godidog hyn yn mynd trwy gyfres o weithdai hyfforddi ac yn cael cymorth i’w helpu i ymchwilio i brosiect ymchwil, ac yn y pen draw i ddatblygu cynnig busnes i fynd i’r afael â’u materion lleol. Roedd thema ymchwil eleni yn ymwneud â datblygu cynigion chwaraeon a/neu weithgarwch corfforol deniadol i bobl ifanc sy’n byw mewn cymunedau nad ydynt yn cael eu gwasanaethu’n ddigonol, gan ymgysylltu ag oddeutu 20 o ymchwilwyr cymheiriaid o 6 LTOs. Mae’r tîm yng Nghymru wedi gweithio’n ddiflino i gefnogi’r grwpiau ymchwil cymheiriaid yn lleol, a chafodd pob un o’r pedair draig (beirniaid) eu chwythu i ffwrdd gan y caeau a ddarparwyd. Rhoddodd y bobl ifanc y gwnaethant gyfarfod â nhw gymaint o obaith iddynt ar gyfer y dyfodol a sut y gallai’r cyllid hwn gael effaith aruthrol ar fywydau’r bobl ifanc mewn cymunedau nad ydynt yn cael eu gwasanaethu’n ddigonol.

Rhoddwyd 15 munud i bob grŵp gynnig am hyd at £15k, bu’n rhaid iddynt gynhyrchu a chyflwyno cynllun busnes, cyllideb fanwl a dadansoddiad risg. Roedd y grwpiau’n amrywio o 16 oed i 24, ac roedd geiriau gan y dreigiau yn nodi bod rhai o’r cynigion hyn y gorau a welsant erioed! Wedi’i ysgrifennu mor dda, dadansoddiad gwych o’r ymchwil a wnaed a chyllidebau mor fanwl. Cafodd y dreigiau eu chwythu i ffwrdd mewn gwahanol ffyrdd gan wahanol grwpiau. Siaradodd un grŵp mor agored am eu heriau personol unigol eu hunain i gael mynediad at chwaraeon a gweithgaredd corfforol a sut maent am wneud yn siŵr nad yw merched eraill yn eu cymuned yn wynebu’r un brwydrau. Soniodd grŵp arall am sut mae ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol a thrais ieuenctid wedi cynyddu ers covid, ac yn achosi problemau gwirioneddol. Bydd eu hymyrraeth syml yn gwneud newid gwirioneddol a pharhaol yn bosibl i’w cyfoedion.

Pam ydym ni’n rhannu hyn? Mae llais ieuenctid yn rhan annatod o bopeth a wnawn yn StreetGames. Drwy ymgysylltu, uwch sgilio a chefnogi pobl ifanc mewn cymunedau lleol, rydym yn newid y pŵer. Y pŵer sy’n newid bywydau pobl ifanc a’u cymunedau trwy gynnig ffordd iddynt fynegi eu pryderon mewn awyrgylch diogel a grymusol. Man lle gellir rhannu materion lleol a gweithredu arnynt i greu newid ystyrlon. Mae hyn hefyd yn cael effaith gadarnhaol ar yr ymchwilwyr cymheiriaid, sy’n datblygu llawer o sgiliau meddal a sgiliau caled i hybu eu datblygiad personol a gyrfa.

O ganlyniad i’r prosiect hwn mae’r ymchwilwyr cymheiriaid wedi llwyddo i gael cyllid i fynd i’r afael â’r problemau y maent yn eu hwynebu yn eu cymuned leol trwy ddarpariaeth Chwaraeon Cam Ddrws, gyda dros £75,000 yn cael ei fuddsoddi mewn 6 chymuned nad ydynt yn cael eu gwasanaethu’n ddigonol.

Meddai Kevin Roberts, ein Rheolwr Codi Arian Partneriaeth yng Nghymru: Rydym yn falch iawn o allu parhau â’n perthynas ragorol gyda SEWSCAP a SEWH, ac i allu darparu mynediad i fwy o bobl ifanc i sesiynau Chwaraeon Stepen Drws o ansawdd uchel, a arweinir gan dystiolaeth, mewn cymunedau nad ydynt yn cael eu gwasanaethu’n ddigonol. yn Ne Cymru. Mae ein partneriaeth arloesol wedi arwain at fuddsoddi dros £75,000 mewn sefydliadau ar draws y rhanbarth, gan ddefnyddio’r fethodoleg ymchwil cymheiriaid a fydd yn cael effaith barhaol ar y bobl ifanc dan sylw, y tu hwnt i oes eu prosiectau. Rydym yn hynod ddiolchgar i SEWSCAP a SEWH am eu cefnogaeth barhaus, ac edrychwn ymlaen at weld y prosiectau’n datblygu dros y misoedd i ddod.