WIREDGOV

Charity aimed at using sport to boost the life chances of children can expand thanks to our investment.

Young people in 50 of England’s most disadvantaged areas are being given the chance to get more active thanks to a £6.6 million, three-year partnership with StreetGames.

The awarding of the National Lottery funds follows a £500,000 grant made to the charity last year, and will allow them to build on their 11 years of using sport to enhance the life chances of young people growing up in deprived areas.

StreetGames uses the experience of their award-winning coaches, local know-how and the latest in community sport, research and insight to help communities throughout our nation to become healthier, safer and more successful.

The charity has worked with more than 1,000 locally trusted organisations that are embedded in communities, bringing the benefits of sport and physical activity to more than 530,000 young people.

Their CEO and co-founder, Jane Ashworth, has overseen the charity welcome a total of 3.8 million attendees to their sessions and events, involving 6,182 coaches and 15,000 volunteers – and she is still determined to see it grow.

“StreetGames is absolutely committed to improving the lives of disadvantaged young people and their communities through sport,” she said.

“Not only getting them more active but ensuring we support their mental and physical wellbeing, develop them as individuals within their communities, combat inequalities and help build an activity habit that stays with them for a lifetime.

“This critical Sport England investment will allow us to continue using sport and physical activity to help create stronger, more resilient communities in these 50 areas and beyond.”

Last month our first-ever Active Lives Children and Young People Survey showed that only 1.2 million children in England meet the guidelines for recommended daily activity.

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