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UK project - The Co-operative Group and StreetGames
By Patrick McCurry, Third Sector, 6 July 2010
The StreetGames scheme runs 73 projects in some of the most deprived areas of England and Wales
For the company that has made the biggest difference through involvement with a UK charity project
FINALISTS
- PricewaterhouseCoopers and the School for Social Entrepreneurs
- Sky and Global Action Plan
In 2008 and 2009, the Co-operative StreetGames Young Volunteers scheme helped more than 1,200 young people to become sports volunteers, which makes it a deserving winner of the UK Project award.
The five-year scheme - a joint effort by the Co-operative Group and the sports charity StreetGames to help young people get involved in sports volunteering - runs 73 projects in some of the most deprived areas of England and Wales.
The Co-operative Group, which chose to work with StreetGames because the aims of the two organisations are closely linked, will invest more than £1m over the five years of the scheme. It is supplementing this with marketing, training and recruitment support for StreetGames, as well as providing prizes for the annual Co-operative StreetGames Young Volunteers of the Year awards. Two members of the company's community team work full time on the scheme.
More than 13,000 young people have been able to take part in sport because of the 27,000 hours of work carried out by the 1,200-plus young volunteers. StreetGames recruits these volunteers from their communities through its own projects, outreach work or local youth groups. The charity's workers then mentor the volunteers, who also attend a three-day residential training course. Mentors provide the volunteers with personal development plans and encourage them to consider further opportunities, such as relevant studies.
The volunteers have gained more than 600 qualifications, including NGB Level 1 coaching awards, community sports leadership awards and other vocational qualifications. "The programme illustrated an innovative approach that linked the strengths of the Co-operative effectively to the needs of StreetGames," said Peter Cafferkey, one of the awards judges and senior company relations manager at the Charities Aid Foundation.
The long-term commitment of the Co-operative Group to the project made the entry stand out, he said. "The Co-operative worked closely with StreetGames in providing access to wider networks, in-kind expertise from Co-operative staff and employee engagement, which was backed up by substantial funding that showed a long-term commitment to the project."
As well as becoming full-time volunteers, the young people have provided help in events such as the Bupa Great Manchester Run. Mentors encourage them to set up their own youth-led sessions for other young people.
The initiative has helped StreetGames to attract further funding from the youth volunteering charity v, develop its expertise in sports volunteering and widen its network in the youth sector.
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