Activity
Using the inspiration of the Games we aim to organise innovative activity programmes to involve large numbers of people in West Yorkshire
Work to date
Sport Unlimited
The Olympics-inspired national programme ran from 2009 to 2011 with the aim of providing eight-week sessions for “semi – sporty” young people.
Over 40,000 young people from across West Yorkshire attended 2,500 sports coaching programmes; easily the highest number in the country. Activities were organised in response to demand from the young people and ranged from the more traditional sports of basketball, netball and football to the less traditional ones of Free Running and Street Surfing.
West Yorkshire Youth Games
The West Yorkshire Youth Games has continued to involve over 1,000 young people in this Olympic style multi-sports event each year. The event is a culmination of school sports competition at a local level with the winners qualifying to represent their District. It is a always a colourful, vibrant occasion bringing to life the partnership work between local authorities, schools and National Governing Bodies.
School Competition Manager Programme 2010 saw the Competition Manager programme open up school competition to 49% of children and young people across the county. This has increased from 35% in 2007, before the team of 10 Competition Managers was in place organising events and festivals and creating links with community sports provision.
The next year
Sportivate
Launched in June 2011, the Sportivate programme is, a key strand of Sport England’s People Places Play programme - offering a range of sporting activities for 14 – 25 year olds across the county.
The target is for 15,000 young people to regularly attend the sports sessions in West Yorkshire in a bid to encourage them to take up lifelong sport.
School Games
As part of the Government’s legacy programme, the School Games will take place across the country.
Children and young people will compete first within schools throughout the year, then District competitions will build up to a county event. Building on the strength of the current West Yorkshire Youth Games, the county event will take place next year in June.
Beyond 2012
Sportivate
The Sportivate programme will continue until 2015, offering opportunities for thousands of young people. At the end of each coaching programme, links will be made with ongoing sports opportunities ensuring that those inspired to continue can easily do so.
The School Games and competition programme will continue for a further two years following Olympic year.
