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New sports initiative for deprived communities
Sport England has announced plans to invest £680,000 in StreetGames over the next two years in a bid to make sport more accessible to young people from disadvantaged communities.
A new strategic partnership aims to help the charity to build on the work it has already undertaken in areas of social deprivation since its launch in 2007 to provide coaches, community sports leaders and volunteers to increase sporting opportunities. Sport England's support will enable StreetGames to form partnerships with 10 county sports partnerships over the next 12 months, and a further 20 in the second year, as part of efforts to get a million more people playing sport and establish a lasting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Links between existing StreetGames projects and mainstream club participation will be strengthened using Sport England funding, with the charity committed to working with at least six national governing bodies (NGBs) in the first year of the partnership and 14 by the end of year two. StreetGames will help to connect 'doorstep sport' to mainstream clubs and talent development schemes, to recruit volunteers in deprived communities and to advise on the best ways in which NGBs can reach disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
Sport England chair Richard Lewis said: "For grassroots sports to move with the times and remain relevant to young people, new ways of working are needed. That's why StreetGames is so important. "By bringing sport to the doorstep, StreetGames opens up new routes for national governing bodies and other sports providers to make lasting connections with young people and unleash their sporting potential."
Jane Ashworth, chief executive of StreetGames, added: "Sport England is taking the lead in making sport available to anyone and everyone. We are delighted to play our part in this and in ensuring that sport for all is a reality for young people regardless of who they are or where they live."