Today, StreetGames is launched. StreetGames is a new national charity set up to bring sport to the doorstep of young people who are currently outside sport but want to get involved. From the streets of Liverpool to the beaches of Cornwall we have shown that our approach can empower young people and help breed respect, cooperation and dignity in disadvantaged communites.
A new Street Games pamphlet explains that particpation in sport is profoundly skewed by class. Roughly, the top 20% of the population are twice as likely to particpate in sport as the bottom 20%. In a basket of sports (which excludes football and boxing) the top 20% are 4 times as likely to make it to elite level as the bottom 20%.
Governement strategy is to improve school sport, get that base right and then move onto sending coaches into the community. That's fine - its vital we continue to improve school sport and get more coaches into communities. Deprived estates have fewer clubs than the suburbs.
StreetGames is looking for supporters and patrons. Could you help?