Minister Praises Innovative Youth Sport Project

Minister for Social Services and Public Health, Rebecca Evans, has visited an innovative project in Cardiff, that provides young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with opportunities to enjoy a range of sports activities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Street Games Doorstep Project in Canton, works with the hardest to reach young people in the Canton and Riverside areas of Cardiff. It enables local young people to have fun and enjoy physical activity on a regular basis. Activities are designed to increase their health and well-being, as well as their motivation and confidence. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

StreetGames is a charity that aims to reduce inequalities and tackles poverty through sport. Doorstep Sport Clubs are fun, informal sports clubs that enable disadvantaged young people to take part in sport in their local neighbourhood. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Street Games projects received core grant funding of £125,000 from Sport Wales in 2016-17. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Minister saw the variety of activities on offer and met with the StreetGames StreetStyle Group – a group of young people from across a range of different StreetGames projects in Wales that meet on a monthly basis to influence sport and physical activity opportunities for young people from disadvantaged areas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Minister for Social Services and Public Health, Rebecca Evans, said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I was pleased to be able to see for myself how much this project means to the young people and the range of sporting opportunities it offers for them to enjoy in a welcoming and safe environment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It was good to meet with the StreetGames StreetStyle Group, which gives young people a chance to have their say about what is important to them and discuss the types of barriers they are faced with. I was particularly impressed with the commitment of the young volunteers who give up their time to improve the lives of their peers.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Giving children and young people opportunities to access a positive experience of physical activity early in life is key to sport and exercise becoming a lifelong habit and is central to the work of Welsh Government, Sport Wales and Street Games” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Paul Roberts, Head of Programmes, Wales, StreetGames said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are proud of the work of staff and volunteers at Canton Community Centre, they provide a brilliant variety of activities for young people and really reach out to the local community in a proactive way. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This project is a great example of a non-traditional sport session that provides vital opportunities for people in local communities. We are fighting hard to ensure this type of provision is recognised and given the necessary support.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​