Every year, over 10,000 children and young people from across Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire engage in ‘rugby league inspired’ projects delivered by the Hull FC Community Foundation within schools and accessible community locations.
March will mark six-months of delivery for one of the charity’s newest initiatives, ‘It’s Your Game’, which is supporting young people in Withernsea to have access to positive activities on a Thursday and Friday evening in their community.
With an underlying objective to reduce prevalence of anti-social behaviour in the town, the project has been supported in its first year through a grant award from the Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner’s ‘Community Response Fund’.
Thirty-four young people have accessed the sessions to date delivered from Withernsea High School, with outcomes related to improved mental and emotional wellbeing, healthy lifestyle awareness, and understanding of the dangers and consequences of risk-taking behaviours identified.
When asked to describe her experience within the project, one of the participants described ‘It’s Your Game’ as ‘one of the things I most look forward to each week’ with highlights including the ‘chance to play different sports with my friends’ and ‘take part in education session that are fun and in areas that can help me’.
The Foundation’s Youth Diversionary Lead Ryan Gibbons commented: “We have been delighted with the response from children and young people towards ‘It’s Your Game’ which builds very much on the work our school teams deliver within primary and secondary schools along the East coast.
“The weekly sessions have provided a safe space for young people to socialise, form friendships, and engage in healthy activities.
“We look forward to building on the programme further, working closely with participants to ensure their ideas are incorporated, with an aim of sustaining provision long into the future’.
Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Evison said: “I am really pleased to be supporting Hull FC in the delivery of the rugby league inspired project.
“There needs to be more safe spaces for young people where they can get involved in positive activities. I am looking forward to seeing the programme progress.”
