Hull Olympic Festival

As the Olympic Games show, sports are a great foundation for teamwork, commitment and self-confidence.

We saw this in action at the recent Hull Olympic Festival. Organised by StreetGames and Healthy Holidays Hull, the event encouraged 11 to 16-year-olds to take part in different activities at the University of Hull’s sporting facilities.

StreetGames has shared some insightful data about the festival:

• 201 young people attended including 48 who qualify for free school meals
• The most common age range was 11 to 12-year-olds
• 105 items of GB kit and 75 items from the Kit Out Hull recycling scheme were given away
• 16 different activities were available, all led by locally trusted organisations

The festival has received extremely positive feedback. A parent commented that it was “great to see so many providers working together and so many things for kids to try.” One young attendee said, “I’ve tried things I would never get the opportunity to.”

Our tour of the impressive Allam Sports Centre provided an opportunity to meet with stakeholders from Active Humber, East Riding FA and Hull City Council. Events like the Hull Olympic Festival emphasise the crucial role of young leaders in shaping community development. By involving young people in the decision-making process, we can create more relevant and engaging programmes.

As the representative from Hull City Council expressed, “It was a great event that demonstrated the value of collaboration, local organisations working together to provide high-quality sport and physical activity for young people with the chance to engage with providers after the event, also highlighting the interest and enthusiasm of young people. We need to do more of it!”

About StreetGames

Since 2007, StreetGames has been working with community organisations across the UK to transform young people’s lives through sport.

Their network now totals over 1,600 local community organisations – from sports clubs and community groups to housing associations, leisure trusts and local authorities. These organisations are uniquely placed to support young people by offering a safe place with trusted coaches and individuals who know the neighbourhood and the young people who live there.

StreetGames is one of the UK’s leading ‘sport for development’ charities. Their mission is to transform the lives of young people living in low-income, underserved communities through sport and physical activity.

More Sporting Activities in Hull

Healthy Holidays Hull showcases events for children (5 to 16-years-old) during the summer holidays. The programme is a blended offer of sport, physical activity and enrichment activities for children, young people and families across Hull.

Our new website Youth Connect is aimed at 11 to 18-year-olds seeking to explore new interests, develop skills and contribute to their community. The platform is part of a strengths-based campaign to encourage young people to take part in positive activities as an alternative to being drawn into crime or violence.

Photos courtesy of Curtiss Creative.