Objective

The StreetGames London Safer Together Through Sport project is to harness the power of sport to provide more diversionary opportunities for young people from Tower Hamlets who are ‘at risk’ of entering the criminal justice system or re-offending.

Sports sessions delivered by experienced community leaders using the proven Doorstep Sport model, will promote positive behaviours and outcomes by being inclusive, participatory, and ensuring young people are at the heart of project delivery. This model emphasises an informal approach to sport, enhancing participation and encouraging social aspects, resulting in increases in on-going attendance.

Sessions will divert young people away from serious violence and gangs; build trust amongst the community of young people; provide opportunities for training and leadership experience and increase employability skills – We call this Sport 4 Good.

Proposal

StreetGames is supporting Trapped in Zone One to expand our current provision, delivering informal Doorstep Sport sessions once a week, for at least 22 weeks from January to July 2021.

The target audience is 40 vulnerable and ‘at risk’ young people aged 14-19. Tower Hamlets has been selected as one of the top hotspot areas from serious youth violence crime data, provided by MOPAC, and because of a strong presence of locally trusted organisation’s who already work on the Sport 4 Good agenda.

Our experience of working and engaging with those ‘at-risk’ will also help refer hard to reach young people through their own local community networks. The referral pathway defines responsibilities and a step by step process for the young person at the centre of this pathway to enable to access a potentially life changing experience by taking part in the programme.

A typical ‘at risk’ young person’s journey will be:

  1. Formal or informal referral into a project

  2. Irregular to regular participation

  3. Volunteer and learner

  4. Supports co-design and session leadership

  5. Young sessions leader or coach

  6. Project admin support; evidence collection

  7. Promote activities through marketing and communications

  8. Young Ambassador leading to employment

Project Activities

The activities decided upon have come from consultation and research from these sources:

  • Consultation with the proposed partner staff and volunteers, sharing their in-depth knowledge of the local context and the communities they serve (Ongoing consultation originally carried out June to Sept 2019, and will continue through to the induction on 1 July, 2020)

  • Staff feedback, local crime and community safety data from stakeholders and knowledge of local facilities has identified ideal locations to provide safe spaces and diversionary activity. (Ongoing consultation including feedback from Youth Justice Board, and Youth offending teams in March 2020)

  • Consultation with their young people - each locally trusted organisation has consulted with at least ten of their existing participants to understand how best to engage their peer group and this has led to the initial design of activities; day, time of day, length of session, training and potential employment pathways. This feedback will be on-going through the project. (This took place August to September 2019, and will be refreshed between May to July 2020)

  • Previous project insight & the ten critical ingredients identified from Loughborough University research as being key to an effective intervention - are core to the project design.

Training Courses

  • Activator Workshop - e.g. Football, Basketball, Boxing and Multi-Sports

  • Level 1 Award for Developing Community Activities for Youth at Risk

  • ABA Boxing Award

  • Level 1 Award in Coaching - Football

  • Level 2 Award in Coaching - Multi-Skills

  • Level 2 Award in Coaching - Basketball

Upcoming Training:

Youth Mental Health First Aid Course

Date: 25 and 26 October 2021 | 17:00-20:00

Address: 117 Vallance Road, London E1 5BW

LONDON SAFER THROUGH SPORT

If you have any questions contact us.