Festival is streets ahead!
Youth and community groups from across the Tees Valley enjoyed a fantastic day of free sporting fun at the StreetGames Festival, held at Norton Sports Complex.
Organised by Tees Valley Sport and the StreetGames charity – which was set up to help promote sport to young people living in disadvantaged communities - over 200 young people, all kitted out in colourful t-shirts, got the chance to try out unusual activities such as; rock-it ball, indoor rowing, dance mats, bungee run, street dance, futsal and StreetCheer, as well as more traditional sports like hockey, basketball, cricket and football.
Rachael MacKenzie, a previously world ranked number one thai boxer now working for Sport England’s Sporting Champions initiative, was also on hand to perform demonstrations and engage with the youngsters.
Also assisting on the day where five young volunteers from the University of Teesside’s SUNEE (Sport Universities North East England) student volunteering project.
StreetGames Coordinator and event organiser, Sarah Stephenson, said;
“It was fantastic to see so many young people enjoying themselves, trying out new activities and being able to represent their local estates and youth groups. I know many of them are now really looking forward to playing at the regional festival later this month and hoping to bring more success to their local communities.”
Speaking on behalf of Norton Sports Complex, the Chairman of the Trustees was also delighted with how the event went;
“It was a pleasure to offer our facilities to help support community sport in the area. Seeing so many young people from youth groups across the Tees Valley enjoying themselves here at Norton is just fantastic to see. Through having the opportunity to participate in a variety of events some will find a new sport they enjoy and hopefully even join a local sports club just like ours.”
The main competitions took place on the afternoon with Camp Blakey – a Blakeston School summer group – taking the honours in the StreetCheer event, whilst outside on the grass the football competition was keenly contested. Eventually the honours went to; St. Cuthbert’s and Whinney Banks, both from Middlesbrough, in the U12 and U14 age groups respectively. The final category, the U16’s, saw Albany Youth Centre from Norton beat off the competition in a round robin event.
Many of the teams who competed will now go on to represent their youth or community group at the North East StreetGames Festival, taking place at the Sporting Club in Cramlington on August 27. A great opportunity to bring some more silverware back to the Tees Valley!
