StreetGames Festivals in action

As part of our commitment to encourage active, healthy lifestyles in the communities in which we operate, Coca Cola Great Britain has teamed up with charity StreetGames to provide sporting opportunities to teens in disadvantaged communities across the country.

Part of our funding has been put towards a programme of neighbourhood festivals, which over the course of our three-year partnership with StreetGames will bring sports to thousands of young people in urban communities.

At the London StreetGames Festival, which took place in October 2011 at Westminster Sports Academy, we chatted to a few of the volunteers and coaches about the day:

Dianne, StreetGames London Festival volunteer
"The best bit about today has been seeing how important sport is as a tool to engage people of all ages. You’ve got that competitive element, the discipline, the physical exertion – StreetGames is a wonderful way of bringing all of those elements together, but then also doing it at the heart of the community."

Gundeep, football coach and StreetGames billboard star
"The work StreetGames does is really important. You can make a big difference offering someone professional coaching. Kids love when they play with someone who organises it for them – it’s something different to their normal kickabout, it’s more structured, they love it, and without you realising it, you’re empowering them in different ways. Sports clubs and teams give you something to belong to – and when you’re young you want to belong to something."

Giles, StreetGames Canterbury
"About 35 of us have come into London today. We have tournaments in the Canterbury area (we have four different projects), but to be able to come up to London to be able to do it, for the southeast, it’s great.
StreetGames Canterbury started up as an antisocial behaviour project but, in reality, for some areas, it’s moved from that to now being very much a sports project, trying to get people more active and healthy."

Ellie, England Athletics Activator for the Run! Project in London
"It was really buzzing this morning because we had the taster sessions on the athletics track. We’ve had tonnes of young people coming over – boys, girls, different ages – and timing themselves against world record times.
The festival brings sport to young people who wouldn’t necessarily be able to access it in any other environment – we have judo going on, street dance upstairs, basketball and the army assault course. It’s a brilliant opportunity for young kids. At each of the activities there’s been a representative from a club – these are all the partners we pull together – so if a young person shows promise we can club link them. If they just like it for the participation, we can signpost them to activities in their local area. It’s this kind of event that sparks that enthusiasm."

Helen, running the street golf sessions
"We’ve had quite a different mix of people here today – some of the volunteers have given [street golf] a go as well, which was a great blast! A lot of the kids are very focused and determined to get the technical side of it right and the adults are behaving like children!
I think it’s fantastic that London [is] hosting the Olympic Games to bring that message home – it will help kids realise that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, it's on their doorstep and that they really should get stuck in."

Aaron, coach for Sport 4 NRG in Ramsgate, Kent
"Today’s been good, it’s a new experience for the boys. They’re used to their local football so it’s a bit different bringing them up to London, where the standard’s a little bit higher – they seem to have been enjoying themselves! They’ve also had the chance to have a go at some new sports, like beach football and street golf."

Sergeant Bicker-Caarten, Army Careers Office
"Today we set up an inflatable army assault course and people had to see how quickly they could get round it. Everyone has really enjoyed it today. Events like this encourage young people to keep active, the competitive element is also there - and the fun! I think the festival is a good opportunity to interact with the community and also raise awareness of the army and what we can offer.".