A new drive to use sport to help improve the lives of those living in the most disadvantaged communities in Wales is underway, the Welsh Government announced today (Weds 5th March).
Ministers are working with the StreetGames organisation to get more children living in Communities First areas to become involved in sport and physical activity.
Communities First is the Welsh Government’s flagship programme to help those living in the top 10 per cent most deprived communities in Wales. It works to improve health, prosperity and access to education and learning.
Communities First operates in 52 ‘clusters’ across Wales and StreetGames is involved with over 20 of these. In just nine months StreetGames has already worked with more than 8,500 young people and increased the physical activity levels of almost half of these participants.
Activities include door step sports clubs, creating opportunities for young people to take part in a sports tournament and encouraging volunteers to get involved to support their community. They also have a Training Academy that has led to 20 young people entering employment as a result.
The Welsh Government has awarded £470,000 of funding to StreetGames for the project. StreetGames also work closely with a number of organisations, including Sport Wales, who jointly fund this project.
The Deputy Minister for Tackling Poverty Vaughan Gething will be at the Valleys Kids Soar centre in Tonypandy to see how the initiative is making a real difference, with the aim of getting more Communities First areas involved.
Vaughan Gething said:
“StreetGames are doing fantastic work across Wales in some of our most deprived communities. It is a great example of how different organisations working together – from the Welsh Government, StreetGames and Sports Wales, working with Communities First Clusters – can make a real difference to the lives of individuals despite the austerity all public bodies face.
“This is about helping people live healthier, more active lives, offering them the opportunity to participate in sports within their own communities, without expense and the need for travel. It also allows them to develop their skills and improve their life chances.
“It is a sad fact that average life expectancy has increased more slowly in the most deprived areas of Wales compared to the least deprived areas. Good health and wellbeing should not depend on where people live or their social circumstances.
“Being active is not only valuable to the individual and their families but also means they are less likely to have to turn to health and social care services in the short and long term.”
