We speak to Award Winner Dylan Jones about his Sheffield based UnLtd Sport Relief project!
 

I've set up free organised football sessions for 30 9-13yr olds in a local park. Sheffield Wednesday FC have also supported the sessions, giving equipment and tickets to matches for participants.

What are the social issues that your project is tackling in your area?

It is keeping kids active, and also safe from older lads who might take their ball. Many younger children do not use the parks as they feel intimidated by older kids drinking, fighting and bullying them.. I hope that the project will give young people confidence to play in public spaces and create positive role models.

What are you personally getting out of running your project?

Confidence, and I’m also learning the ability of how to deal with difficult situations - it’s good experience.

What has been your biggest challenge so far?

To keep the kids coming back every week and making sure they stay interested.

How do you feel the project has created social impact in your community?

Kids have started to respect the local community and area they live in a lot more.

What are the best things you have experienced since receiving your UnLtd Sport Relief Award?

I feel the kids have shown me respect and maybe now I’m seen as a role model for them.

Where do you see your project going in the future?

I see it maybe expanding to other parks that need the same help.

What one thing would you say to young people to encourage them to get involved?

It will make your CV look better to potential employers.

Do you class yourself as a social entrepreneur?

Not yet! This is my first project. I’m currently studying a Btec in sport and leisure and am planning to go to University. I’d like to work as a P.E. teacher in the future and run sports sessions for disabled young people.

Playing For The Future is an UnLtd Sport Relief Do It awarded project based in NI. Project Manager Thomas McStravick tells us about it!
 

How did your project get off the ground?

With previous help from UnLtd I was able to organise a six week cross community football tournament in Portadown NI that incorporated coaching and small sided games with the aim of bringing people together and forming new relationships. A total of 60 young people aged 10-12 took part.

How did you expand your project?

I decided to apply for the UnLtd Sport Relief ‘Do It’ award in November 2009 to help develop my project. As a result I was able to set up a multi-sport coaching project in two separate areas bringing together kids aged 4-12 from all communities in Portadown.

What are the social issues that your project is tackling in your area?

Through offering sporting opportunities for all, the project helps to combat the many problems in society, such as anti-social behaviour, early school drop out, racism and sectarianism.

How many participants are involved with your project?

The project now has a total of 65 members with many attending on a regular basis. We have two sessions per week in each area and the core sports of the programme are football, Gaelic, Hockey and Basketball. The project has also incorporated a mini-olympics, netball and tag rugby.

How do you feel the project has created social impact in your community?

The project has allowed kids to form relationships with others from different communities, and educated kids on the importance of health and fitness as well as respect and discipline. We also target young people who are interested in developing a career in youth work or coaching by offering them volunteering opportunities and training.

What has been the reaction of the community to the project?

Some parents have been amazed by the positive changes in their kids behavior and sporting abilities. The project has broken the political barrier that still exists in this area of NI through the power of sport.

What has the 'Do It' Award encouraged you to do?

I formed an organisation called Playing for the Future. We now have a football u17 team starting in Keady, a football tournament that has attracted 16 teams and over 160 participants, summer coaching camps, after school programmes and links have been made with the Irish Football Association as well as a range of local youth clubs and schools. We have a website www.playingforthefuture.co.uk and have done work in youth groups delievering multi-sports activities.

What links has your organisation made?

A link has also been made with Coerver coaching, the worlds No. 1 football coaching company and through this link I have been given the opportunity to visit Real Madrid F.C in Spain this summer to have a look at all of their academy teams training, as well as exclusive excess to their first team. A trip to Barcelona for a three week coaching course has also been set up through links with Spanish company Marcet foundation.

Where do you see your project going in the future?

I am in talks with business advisors through Invest NI to turn ‘Playing for the Future’ into a registered charity or a social business enterprise. Plans are in place to move the work of the organisation to other areas in Northern Ireland and England.

What are you personally getting/do you want to get out of running your project?

As a result of the Award I have been able to develop many skills such as time management, organisational, confidence and other entrepreneurial skills. I have also established that I am really passionate about the development of young people and offering them opportunities that do not exist elsewhere and it is through this aim that one day I hope this to be my full-time job.

 

Drama@ The Lighthouse is an UnLtd Sport Relief Do It awarded project based in the North West and we asked Natasha, the Project Manager, to tell you all about it!

Describe your project in 35 words:

Drama @ the Lighthouse is a new initiative in South Liverpool which uses the Arts, particularly inventive and new ideas in drama to engage with a wide range of the community, encouraging arts for social change and increasing positive community cohesion.

What are the social issues that your project is tackling in your area?

Unemployment and lack of aspiration; lack of community cohesion; lack of arts events and activities leading to lack of creativity. Rising crime and truancy rates.

What are you personally getting/do you want to get out of running your project?

More experience in project management on a larger scale. A better understanding of the community and the people who live there. To be acknowledged more in my field of work both locally and nationally.

What has been your biggest challenge and how have you overcome it?

STARTING - all the ideas and thoughts happen and then actually starting seemed quite daunting. I overcame it by taking it a bit at a time and being confident that if I have faith in it and others do too then it will be successful.

How do you feel the project has created social impact in your community?

We are bringing together a group of young people from several different schools and backgrounds and are encouraging them to work together with each other. We have encouraged the young people (specifically two members) to stop hanging out on the streets but instead get involved with more interesting and exciting things. The local neighbourhood centre and school are interested in me and my work as well as one local company.

What’s been a highlight for you since receiving your UnLtd Sport Relief Award?

Running the drama sessions; working with the young people and seeing their performance skills grow as well as their passion/ dedication and confidence.

Where do you see your project going in the future?

Staying in the same area but growing in the types of work we do. Moving from drama to all art forms to foreign languages to computer skills and adult learning. I would like to see the centre growing so it is living and breathing and providing something for everyone in the area.

What one thing would you say to new applicants, UnLtd and Comic Relief?

Thanks to Comic and Sport Relief, and UnLtd. New applicants- start by thinking big then breakdown how to get there- don’t be scared to go for your dreams!

What one thing would you say to young people to encourage them to get involved?

Its about what you want to go to help who you want - don’t let things be boxed up but use YOUR ideas to have an impact!

What would you like to change or wish could be better?

More time!! I always want more time!

Do you class yourself as a social entrepreneur? Do you plan to go on and do other projects in the future that will help to solve social problems?

Yes, I really love working in the Community and think that any sort of Community work (good practice) helps to solve social problems.




Another fantastic example of an UnLtd Sport Relief Award Winner is Richard from Essex, who was the recipient of a Do It Award for £8,000 and with the money set up the 'Fuzion Martial Arts Project'.

We caught up with Richard to ask him a few questions about his project....


What social issues will your project be tackling?

Underprivileged youths - giving them the opportunity to change their lives through participation, mentoring and role modelling.

Youth aggression - teaching children and adults discipline and respect.

Health and fitness - encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle linking with the governments 5 hour offer for schools.

Childhood obesity - getting children to exercise more in conjunction with healthy eating advertising campaigns.

Establishing a community training centre - where students can socialize, make new friends and attend social events.

Provide a base for upcoming martial arts events and the olympics - allowing students to compete at an amateur or world level.


Describe your project in less than 35 words...

The Fuzion Martial Arts Project has allowed myself to integrate into schools, gyms and community centers, to educate and train students on the benefits of martial arts, providing them with a new direction in life.


Why do you want to run your project?

The aim of the Fuzion Mixed Martial Arts project is to provide a sustainable location within the local community for people to train in martial arts. The project will span multiple locations including schools (teaching children), community centres (working with underprivileged youths) and gyms (teaching adults) reaching out to the whole community.

The impact of the project will strongly encourage underprivileged youths to become involved and change their lives through challenging themselves in accepting responsibility and taking a more encouraging & helping role to community members around them, receiving benefits for their actions.

The project will impact on health and fitness issues including childhood obesity and will strongly encourage a fit, active and energetic lifestyle for children and adults through regular training and exercise.

And finally, How will the UnLtd Sport Relief Award help you?

The UnLtd Sport Relief Award will allow my life passion, dedicated hard work and personal experience to help change the lives of a current and upcoming generation.