Sport 4 Life Supported by The Paragon Foundation

In August 2010 the Paragon Foundation kindly donated £6,645.62 to Sport 4 Life UK, with the aim of making a big difference to a smaller charitable organisation. This report outlines how we have used the money and what it has enabled us to do so far.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR

1. WOMEN’S ONLY AEROBICS

Thanks to help from the Paragon Foundation, we have been able to deliver fitness classes for women suffering from mental health issues throughout Birmingham. The project empowered all of the participants to improve their physical health by exercising more and eating healthier, which in turn helped them to improve their mental health and well being, by supporting them to increase their self-esteem, confidence and positive self-image. Some women lost weight and reduced their waist sizes, and some increased their cardio-vascular abilities. Others benefitted simply by getting out of the house, having some time to themsevles away from their children and families, and meeting up and chatting with friends. This helped many of the women to feel happier, to feel more positive about themsevles and their future, and to feel like they had a sense of purpose with something to focus on. All of these factors combined to ensure that the women were able to reduce their stress, anxiety and depression, and to improve their mental well-being. A particular women who benefitted was Daljit, a regular participant of the weekly class at Springfield Children’s Centre. Prior to joining the class she suffered from low level anxiety and depression, and she was trying to avoid going onto anti-depressant medication. She lacked confidence, had low self-esteem, and had a very negative self body-image, and she struggled with the pressures of everyday life and of raising children. In particular she felt that her husband was fit and athletic, but she hated her own body. However, by attending the classes regularly Daljit was able to lose a little bit of weight, and she began to feel more positive about herself and her body. On top of the physical activity benefits, she thoroughly enjoyed the chance to get way from her husband and family – as the class was the only time to herself all week – as well as the opportunity to make friends and socialise with like-minded women in her community.

2. TRAINING UP A NEW GENERATION OF SPORTS COACHES

Support from the Paragon Foundation has contributed towards Sport 4 Life’s work to train up a new generation of sports coaches. In particular this support has helped us recruit a new young person through the Future Jobs Fund scheme – a government backed initiative that provides paid 6 month work placements for the long term unemployed, young people and others who face significant disadvantage in the job market. Our new trainee, Jordan Strevens, has started working on the ‘My Choice’ Project, and is assisting with the delivery of extracurricular sports activities for ‘underprivileged’ children in the Balsall Heath area. Jordan’s Strevens says: "This opportunity has been great for me. Since leaving school, I have found it difficult to find a job because it seems like there are no jobs out there. It is an added bonus to get a job coaching sports because it is something I love doing. Also the fact that I am able to access training opportunities can only improve my chances of finding a job in the future too." Matthew Forsyth, Project & Development Manager at Sport 4 Life adds: “Through the Future Jobs Fund we have been able to create job opportunities for the people in Birmingham who need them most, and we are working hard to put our trainees through extensive training to improve their CVs and their prospects of finding long-term employment in the future.”

3. SPORTS LEADERSHIP COURSE

Thanks to the donation from the Paragon Foundation we have been able to engage 16 young people from the inner city estate of Summerfield in Birmingham to complete the Day Certificate in Sports Leadership Award. The course has enabled the participants to develop valuable leadership skills, team work skills and communication skills, and has given many of them the opportunity to gain valuable experience as community sports coaches – while simultaneously having a lot of fun! The course provided the teenagers with a theoretical understanding of leadership, as well as practical opportunities to lead their own sessions in sports ranging from uni-hockey to dodgeball to penalty shoot-outs. Participants were also rewarded with a visit to Aston Villa Football Club, including a tour of the ground and a healthy cooking seminar with the Villa Community Team. The donation from the Paragon Foundation enabled us to pay for the Sports Leaders UK tutor resource packs, sports coach fees, and some essential equipment. The photo above shows some of the participants with their certificates, having successfully completed the course.

4. HOLIDAY SPORTS CAMP

The donation from the Paragon Foundation enabled us to deliver a brand-new, 1 week football coaching scheme in the deprived Chamberlain Gardens Estate (Ladywood, Birmingham) for 30 underprivileged children during the summer holidays 2010. The coaching activities were led by a NGB Level 2 Football Coach, with support from volunteers, and consisted of technical coaching drills and small-sided games. The aim of the project was to increase regular participation in sport, especially amongst “semi-sporty” individuals and those excluded from sporting opportunities for social and cultural reasons (e.g. BME groups). One particular participant who benefitted was Chaim Ryan...

Chaim Ryan is a local young person that lives in the estate of Chamberlin gardens. He is 12yrs old and is very keen on sports and enjoys playing basketball, hockey, dodge ball tennis, frisbee but especially football. Chaim heard about the 4 week, intensive summer programme at Chamberlain Gardens MUGA via the local advertisements in the estate. He came to the summer camp as a means of keeping out of trouble and having something to do. Recently, there’s has been a spate of attacks on the local young people relating to post code youth gang violence.

Sport 4 Life coaches recognised that Chaim was having difficulty with his attitude and behaviour towards his peers by being verbally negative and insulting. He would look to focus on his team mates weaknesses. His tone of voice and body language would display anger at failing to complete a task, score a goal or missing a shot while playing pool. Over the last four weeks, efforts were made to challenge his attitudes and to build more respect within him. A series of team games were played to encourage him to become captain and to coach his players on techniques and tactics of different sports e.g. Frisbee – how to throw and control its flight, Dodge ball - the importance of communicating, complimenting and motivating his team mates. In particular he was challenged to feedback two positive comments to his peers after each match. This proved to be successful as his respect, tolerance levels towards his peers, has greatly improved. When asked how as he benefitted for coming to sports4life summer programme, he replied; “l have learnt how to respect other people”.

5. SCHOOL SPORT

The donation from the Paragon Sports Foundation has enabled us to set up an exciting new initiative – in partnership with some additional funding acquired from a local Extended Schools Cluster - to get hundreds of children in Balsall Heath active and playing sport. The project will see over 500 hours of professional sports coaching delivered in local schools by August 2011, with pupils benefitting from free sessions in football, cricket, basketball, and multi-sports. The coaching will take place in Tindal School, Anderton Park School, Clifton School, Heath Mount School, Nelson Mandela School and Ladypool.

The project has been designed to enable children to increase their levels of physical activity, to learn about healthy lifestyles and obviously to have a lot of fun as well. The project is specifically for children whose families might not be able to afford to pay for sports coaching (e.g. those on benefits), and therefore it is giving many, many children the perfect chance to participate in sport, to get active, to try new activities, to make new friends and to enjoy themselves

We are really proud to be running this project and we are confident it will make a real difference to the lives of children in Balsall Heath. We want to promote a healthier, fitter lifestyle for children in the area, and considering the worrying levels of physical inactivity and obesity in Birmingham’s inner city areas these objectives are really important. We are confident that the project will also help children to develop leadership and communication skills, to grow in confidence and self-esteem, and to improve their behaviour.”