Merseyside Youth Games: Why sport is giving our youngsters a second life

Aug 31 2007 by Paul Edwards, Liverpool Daily Post

THE Litherland Sports Park echoed to the sound of a multitude of young people enjoying a wide variety of games and the occasional showers did nothing to spoil their fun.

There was competition of course but there was participation and inclusion too, for the occasion was the Merseyside Community Youth Games and the idea behind the event is that absolutely no-one need be left out.

Organised by the Merseyside Sports Partnership, but also dependent on hundreds of volunteers and the support of sponsors the MCYG, the games, in the words of the partnership’s director, Jean Stephens, “aims to use sport as a vehicle to encourage the participation of those young people who are seen as at risk of becoming socially excluded.”

The games themselves are a showcase which provide living proof of the achievement of this lofty aim, but it is a safe bet that there is not a day in the year when the MSP’s work in co-ordinating, facilitating and financing sport on Merseyside is not in evidence somewhere.

Statistics are one way by which the success of the MSP can be measured. 156,120 young people received quality coaching in 2006-07 partly as a result of its efforts and 60 young disabled people attended the National Athletics Championships in Blackpool, where 52 community coaches were employed on Merseyside and 114 coaches went on disability training courses.

But personal testimony is equally valuable. Lynne Nickson’s daughter, Shira Lumb, has triumphed over her disabilities and learned both boccia, a form of indoor bowls, and athletics. Shira is now training to be a boccia referee and coach and hopes to become a community sports leader.

“Sport’s good for everybody,” said Lynne Nickson. “Whether people are disadvantaged or disabled there’s always something they can do, and if they are disadvantaged they may not have a social life outside school. Sport gives them a second life, it gives them so much more confidence.”

Shira Lumb was just one of a succession of speakers who told of their experiences as a result of events like the Community Youth Games. Emma Stoute and Amber Spencer described their work for the UK Youth Parliament and explained how volunteerism has made a difference in St Helens.

“In our Youth Council we aim to represent all people from a range of backgrounds in the town,” said Stoute. “We try to get people to speak for those groups not currently represented.”

“71% of the news stories about young people are bad,” said Spencer, before revealing a fine awareness of a neat statistical soundbite. “We want to turn that around so that 71% of them are good.”

Sporting champions were represented too. Merseyside-based footballer Sue Smith, currently playing for England at the World Cup in China, explained how she had to play for a boys’ team before being asked to play ladies’ football.

“I believe everybody should have the right to enjoy sport and have the opportunity to participate at whatever level they choose,” said Smith. “Regardless of your goals you should always aim high and work hard to achieve them.”

Outside, on the many pitches of this outstanding facility – the Litherland Sports Park is shortlisted for a National Lottery Award – there were hundreds of young sportspersons putting Smith’s admirable advice into practice.

And on a street-corner a couple of hundred yards away there were a few lads from a similar age-group casually taking the bricks off a wall and throwing them onto the pavement. It is for such people that the Merseyside Sports Partnership and its myriad of programmes exist.

Through the work of the MSP young people plagued by social problems such as drug or alcohol dependency have been helped beyond measure.

Sport has provided a way out.

The Merseyside Sports Partnership can put you in touch with a wide variety of sports clubs across Merseyside. Its number is 0151 231 5239.