THE LONDON branch of StreetGames is celebrating after being recognised with a nomination for a prestigious London Sport Award.

The charity has been shortlisted for The Enhancing the Workforce Award, in association with Chipotle, after moving their training and mentorship programme online.

The programme reaches out to young people in some of London’s hardest-to-reach communities and encourages them to take on sport leadership roles via 300 grassroots organisations.

Caroline Moran, regional training lead for London and the South East, is one of those who helps deliver the scheme – and is delighted at the nomination.

Moran, 37, said: “We’re massively excited, especially going through the last couple of years and how we’ve still been able to support and work alongside the staff that have worked tirelessly to continue to provide some form of provision to these young people.

“It’s not just for us as a team, it’s the hard work of all the organisations we represent, the amazing work that they’re doing on the ground with these young people, so it’s very much for them more than anything.

“I think everyone felt very isolated so it was still important that we provided the safe space for these organisations to come together and be able to collaborate, share their frustration, but also look at opportunities and solutions still with other organisations as well as how we could work with them.

“I think that was hugely important that we didn’t leave our organisations out in the cold and we still continued to do what we could do to help them operate in some shape or form.”

Over the last five years, the annual London Sport Awards, in association with the City of London Corporation, has grown to become the biggest celebration of grassroots and community physical activity and sport in the city. 

And this year’s showpiece event will once again recognise, celebrate, and shine a light on the stories of the incredible individuals, groups and organisations for their outstanding work across the capital helping Londoners of all ages and backgrounds to be physically active.

Stephanie Turner, sports development officer for the Royal Borough of Greenwich, works closely alongside Moran and StreetGames and the 37-year-old added: “For us, the nomination gives the additional quality that we know StreetGames provide.

“We already like the work that StreetGames does and the partnership that we have, so we are really pleased and proud that they can get recognised for the work that they do.

“A lot of young people would have probably found alternative provisions, not necessarily positive alternative provisions, so they might have gone into gangs or knife crime.

“Because we kept them engaged the whole way through we were able to support them, and we also gave them that confidence that they could still develop.”

Dammy Lawal now volunteers after going through training during lockdown – and wants to ensure that young people have the opportunities that were not available before.

Lawal, 24, said: “We didn’t have the money to do all this stuff. If this was available, then I would have been in sports.

“It sounds a bit cliché, but it was about giving back, at the end of the day. I think for me, I want to be part of these kids succeeding and being great athletes or great people.

“Through volunteering, I’m now in employment and I’m happy that I’m finally working in sport. I'm doing something I love and have a passion for.

“There’s a lot of people who just don’t know how to get into it, and programmes like this will at least give you a pathway and progression to get into full-time work within sport.”

The London Sport Awards, in association with the City of London Corporation, shines a spotlight on the unsung community heroes helping Londoners of all backgrounds to enjoy the benefits of physical activity and sport. Find out more about the Awards and how London Sport aims to make London the most physically active city in the world at www.londonsport.org #MakeYourMark