Sport plays an increasingly vital role in shaping the futures of young people and one Aberdeen charity is going from strength to strength in doing just that.

The Street Sport programme is 12 years into its work improving the lives of youngsters around the area by providing free activities to young people in the community.

Particular targets of the charity, a branch of the Denis Law Foundation Trust in partnership with Robert Gordon University, include families torn apart by imprisonment and areas affected by high rates of crime and deprivation, with the charity working closely with police to focus on those parts of the city.

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And rather than be based in one spot, Mark Williams, COO of Street Sport, revealed the charity takes its resources to the areas of the city that need it most.

“We adapted the programme slightly when we started, making sure there are different hooks for different kids, it’s youth-led so it’s all about what they’re wanting to do,” explained Banchory’s Mark.

“We do 15 sessions a week in areas across Aberdeen, all in the evening, and we’re quite intelligence-led so we have police show us where the hotspots are and we use our mobile sports arena to bring the activities to the kids.

“Everything we do is free of charge, we’ve always believed that the two biggest barriers to kids’ participation are cost and travel so we’ve made sure everything is free and right where the kids need it.”

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One shining example of the programme’s success is 18-year-old Benji Ogalde-Gallardo, who has progressed from a shy youth to one of the nominees for the TSB Young Leader award for excellence and leadership in getting involved with the programme.

“Benji’s story is a perfect template of what we’re trying to do in Aberdeen,” added Mark, 40.

“He has been a participant for a number of years, then became a young volunteer for 18 months before enjoying our employability programme as well as volunteering.

“He’s very much gone along our pathway and is a prime example of what we want to do.

“He’s a cracking role model, he’s very well known in his community because he’s with us every week, so young kids are seeing him and the things he’s achieving and they’re wanting to do the same.”

TSB and Sport for Development charity, Sported, have come together to help local community groups like The Street Sport Programme use the power of sport to make a positive difference to young people and the communities they are part of. With their support, The Street Sport Programme will become stronger over time, so they can help even more local young people.

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The work being done at the Aberdeen charity is not going unnoticed or unheralded, with Mark admitting the recognition was coming thick and fast.

“Last year we won the Queen’s Award which was huge for us, it’s really cemented what we’ve been doing and now it’s about using that in a positive way for the rest of the year in beyond,” added Mark.

“It’s a big pat on the back, in volunteering you don’t get too many opportunities to look behind you and think about what you’ve done, so to get these kind of awards is huge for the team and the volunteers.

“Back in January we got the Greatest Contribution to Police Excellence, April was the Best Project using Sport for Good, then the Queen’s Award on June 2. Aberdeen Sports Awards – Community Project of the Year.

“Then in November we had the National Pride Awards, the biggest award in sports after SPOTY so that was huge to win Community Project.

“That two days was just incredible, we were rubbing shoulders at the Grosvenor with the great and good, Olympians and well-known sportspeople – and we’re just a little charity from Aberdeen.

TSB, in partnership with Sport for Development charity Sported, is proud to help local community groups across the UK use the power of sport to make a positive difference to young people and the communities they are part of. #TSBLocalPride