Many people take the fact that they can get to a gym, play sport or find good play facilities for children for granted.
However, this is not always the case and new schemes have been set up to ensure that every person can access sport, art and play, regardless of their age, where they live and where community and sports facilities and events are located in the town.
Young people in particular can be excluded from sporting activities because of cost and location and now new schemes have been introduced specifically for them. Sport 4 U, a community sport outreach project, has been set up and takes place at a venues around the town.
Sport 4 U aims to give young people the chance to play football, basketball and try street dancing, skating and other sports, and is now in a street near you.
Sport 4 U saw 10-16 year olds taking part in a programme of sport held at the Grove School during half term. Sports coaches were on hand to lead a variety of sports including volleyball, in-line skating, street dance, table tennis, football, badminton and basketball.
Following on from this success, November saw the start of a new approach to sport in the town. Sports development teams headed up to Tesco in Hollington with generators and floodlights to kick start a new programme of sport on the streets with two hours of sport scheduled to take place every week.
Sports coaches already go to Robsack cage, Robsack Community Centre, Linley Drive kick about area, Four Courts at Hollington, Broomgrove kick around area, The Fellowship of St Nicholas, London Road, West Hill and Warrior Square every week to help young people try new sports on an informal basis.
The partners involved in the various schemes hope that this will be a new way of making sure that anyone can access sport and activities in their local areas, supported by professional coaches. It is also hoped that there will eventually be a ‘street league’ across the town.
Councillor John Humphries, said:
"Everyone should have access to sport and activities - we hear too often that there is not enough for young people to do in the town. This unique way of taking sport and activities to people, is one way in which we can make sure that they have the choice to take part in them, meet new people and learn new skills."
"Schemes like Sport 4 U are a step in the right direction to making sure that people - in particular young people - can enjoy the benefits and opportunities that we take for granted. Without all the partners involved, this scheme would not be as effective."
"There is no doubt that as the town undergoes massive regeneration, investing in people is a vital element in the development of the town as a good place to work, visit and live in."
Sport 4 U is made possible through a partnership of Hastings Borough Council, Hastings & Bexhill Youth Service, NSPCC, Sport England, Positive Futures, The Greater Hollington Partnership, Express Advocacy and Hastings Schools Sports Partnership.
For more information please contact the sports development team on 781122.
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This page last updated: 14/04/2003