Council pledges to continue with Street Sport

7:57pm Monday 12th May 2008

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BASKETBALL, tennis and skating are just some of the sports that will continue to be available to York youngsters after the council pledged to continue with its Street Sport initiative.

Street Sport York has been operating in the city since the summer of 2005 and in the last three years has reached more than 7,000 young people with its various sport sessions and mobile skate park.

Allen Marsh, the head coach of Street Sport in York, said the scheme was about encouraging children and teenagers to be active by going out to them.

He said: "We work mainly with young people aged between five and 18 years of age, although we have had a few daring parents participate.

"Street Sport York is about going into the community and reaching young people, encouraging them to take part wherever they are and using the medium of play and sport to achieve this." The programme also received a boost in Holgate recently when residents voted to allocate £2,000 from the ward committee budget for Street Sport sessions.

Holgate councillor Denise Bowgett said: "We're delighted residents have recommended and passed this funding.

"Sport is a great way of engaging young people at street level. Activities will range from basketball, tennis and volleyball to street hockey and a mobile skate park.

"The sessions will help to occupy youngsters with something constructive, but will also create a buzz in the ward in the areas where activities take place. I hope they will encourage children to take up their preferred sport on a more regular basis, not least to maintain a healthy lifestyle".

The programme, which is regularly updated, can be found at www.york.gov.uk

For more information telephone Mr Marsh on 07799 347987 or Simon Haddock on 07919 058628.