Street Series SW will creae a structured league programme across the region to both recruit and retain young people from low income backgrounds into regular activity. Collaborating with facility operators and Street Sport outlets, we have a draft competition structure that includes mixed competitions across freestyle BMX, skateboard and scootering for under 15s and 15-21 age groups. There is a lack of formal structure for skateboarding and scootering in England and BMX freestyle is still in its formative stages under British Cycling. So, we want to build those pathways from grass roots upwards and outwards and provide a model for other areas of England to learn from.
By creating a league structure we will nurture a Street Sports community in the region. This will bring like-minded young people together on multiple occasions, providing the forum for them to share good practice and advance their skills on a peer-to-peer basis and improve their social skills and physical literacy.
What we'll deliver:
- Minimum of four new events in 2019
- Minimum of 500 participants
- 20% places allocated to most deprived
Why it's a great idea:
From our wide experience across 20 sports, we know how difficult it is to engage young people from low income backgrounds into traditional sports, except in Street Sports, which attracts is three-times as likely to attract people from low-income communities. We want to build on our one off event, by creating the first ever league structure in the region including skateboarding, scootering and BMX freestyle. There are an estimated 41,000 people across the region who take part in street sports, yet no organised competition structure. This will give that community a focus and incentive to be active regularly and provide them with recognition and celebrate their success. Skateboarding and BMX freestle are also set to join the Olympics at Tokyo 2020, as the profile of the activities soars, we will have the perfect outlet for young people interested in those activities.
Steps to get it done:
- Over 100 social media followers
- Up to 80% capacity at first round of series
- Up to 500 participants across the series
We would like to host the league from January to April, deliberately focussing on Winter and Spring months to get participants into a regular activity habit during colder months, but then having built on their skills and developed friendships ahead of the summer months where outdoor skateparks are more practical to use. The events will also provide an economic boost for the region, driving footprint to facilities from within the region and from people outside Devon and Cornwall, who will welcomed to enter the events.
