Sport Development provides a diverse service, which is recognised for using sport and physical activity as a means to engage hard to reach groups of children, young people and families.
Sport Development incorporates a multi agency approach to engage hard to reach groups and uses sport as a tool to do this. Not only is there an opportunity to learn sporting skills, but also an emphasis on key leadership and life skills. In some cases these young people have had little positive influence in their lives and sport can be used to increase their self-esteem and confidence leading them to a better outlook on life. The young people have the opportunity to have a healthy and active lifestyle through the many Sport Development programmes and initiatives.
The Sport Provision for Young People programme tackles wider agendas that sit within the universal, target and specialist model. It provides young people with an opportunity to access safe and structured sessions with a wide range of sporting opportunities to experience. Sport Development work with many different targeted groups of young people, to help overcome several different issues, problems and concerns surrounding the youth today, such as anti social behaviour, barriers to participation, obesity, crime, disability, bullying and health, however, this is not an exhaustive list.
There are currently 35 target multi-sport sessions delivered in Oldham by Sport Development. A multi agency approach is adopted when implementing provision for targeted groups. This is key when working with hard to reach young people in order to share expertise and skills to obtain the most effective output for young people. Dedicated members of the Sport Development Team work with key partnerships to ensure that individual needs are met through new and existing programmes.
There are key target groups that Sport Development is delivering sport and physical activity to. These groups of young people vary in age, risk, vulnerability, ability etc. Each group need requires special consideration and different interventions to enable an effective outcome.
Sport Development support the structured provision for young people who are at risk of offending and low risk offenders by delivering activity mostly in locality areas. The sessions are to divert young people from negative aspects in their lives to a positive healthy lifestyle.
An officer is fully involved in the Targeted Youth Service Task and Finish group meeting in order to establish a new Centre for young people. The centre will consist of a multi agency reception to engage all young people entering ‘The Centre’