The Guernsey Sports Commission will be receiving £66,000 over the next three years to support delivery of the Street Sports programme from 2015 until 2017, a community initiative that offers local youths the chance to take part in sport in their own neighbourhoods.

Four charities were recently awarded a grant through the BBC's Children in Need fund. The Guernsey Sports Commission join Safer, Relate and Young People Guernsey so that they will all be able to continue working with young people through various schemes and projects.

First set up in 2010, Street Sports is a community programme that offers 11-18 year olds the opportunity to enjoy sports in local neighbourhoods. It is a way of channelling young islanders' energies into constructive physical activity and aims to improve young people's confidence and self-esteem through sport.

This is the second time that Street Sports have received a grant from Children in Need. It allows the Street Sports team to continue encouraging young people to be active, participate, learn new skills and have fun.

Shirley Ann Parker, co-ordinator of the Street Sports programme said: "Street Sports has become an established weekly activity for many young people and the grant from Children in Need will enable us to continue having a presence within the community for another three years.”

The programme offers young people access to free sports sessions at three locations on the island. To do this it is essential that the programme has a team of sports leaders who can engage positively with young people through sport and physical activity.

Shirley added: “The financial support will ensure we have a dedicated team who have the right training, resources and outdoor equipment to deliver sessions 50 weeks of the year, three evenings a week, for two hours in the evening.”

Through the programme young people can enjoy football, basketball, netball, tchoukball, dodgeball, cricket, hockey, frisbee, volleyball, badminton, batting and fielding games, skipping and circus.

The photograph on this blog shows Shirley Ann Parker (left), Street Sports Co-ordinator, pictured with Jenny Murphy (right), Sports Development Officer at the Guernsey Sports Commission.