Concord Sports Centre in Shiregreen is hosting a football and swimming programme for eighty youngsters to get involved with after receiving £7,000 funding from Sheffield Youth Offending Service and Sheffield City Council.
Young people aged eight-13-years-old will improve their skills in football, swimming and water polo. They will receive coaching in football and futsal along with rules of the games from Sheffield and Hallamshire FA and will also be attending a refereeing academy which will enable them to referee their own matches within the camp. The host of educational sessions also includes a film on gun and knife crime produced by the Youth Offending Service.
Every week 16 youngsters from Shiregreen, Burngreave and Firth Park area will take part. Organisers hope that by introducing the youngsters to a variety of sport, they will continue to use the centre to improve their health as well as to prevent them from turning to anti-social behaviour to keep them entertained.
Natalie Briggs, Assistant programme and development manager at Concord Sports Centre, which is operated by Sheffield International Venues, said: “Young people are often in difficult circumstances financially or in looking after themselves.
“This project will provide access and opportunity for some of the most hard to reach young people in Sheffield and the UK.”
Young people from the areas surrounding Concord Sports Centre will have the chance to swim and play football with people from different backgrounds and areas.
Natalie added: “Cohesion of people from different areas has been successful recently at Concord as young people see it as a neutral venue in terms of the area.”
The children will also be encouraged to volunteer with their local football club or referee matches.
The five weeks of sessions begin on Monday July 26. To get involved contact 0114 257 0053.
www.concordleisurecentre.co.uk