成人论坛

Over the school Easter and summer holidays every year Amber Valley Sports Development team send staff to sports grounds throughout the area to run sports sessions for children aged eight to fifteen. The scheme is part of the team's overall sports development programme.

This is the tenth year of the Outreach and it has played a key role in the development of numerous individuals. There are twelve Outreach centres in Amber Valley, all of which are free to attend.

Throughout the year the Sports Development team go into schools to aid teachers in delivering sport to the pupils. It is these same pupils who are encouraged to attend Outreach.

The scheme aims to get children off the streets and introduce them to a range of sports. It is focused around sport for all and developing individuals through sport rather than producing elite athletes.

Outreach leaders on hand to help out

A story which typifies the objectives of the scheme is that of 15-year-old Lucy from Belper. She explained how she got involved with Amber Valley Sports Development: "I've been doing [Outreach] since I was about seven and then just carried on doing it and then ... I got picked to do mini-Olympics."

This shows how Outreach and other schemes aim to develop the attendees.

The mini-Olympics is a scheme set up by councilors from Amber Valley in conjunction with counterparts from Laholm (Sweden) and Glogov (Poland). It is used as a reward for those young people who have made the greatest contributions to sport in their area. Community Sports Development Officer, Alfie Smith explained it is: "A European twinning exchange between the three countries for young people and it is to facilitate harmony between European youth cultures."

Every child who attends Outreach is encouraged to work with the Sports Development team to stay involved with sport and in the long term possibly gain qualifications and even a job. Assistant Coach at the Belper Outreach centre, Jack Pressland, started as a volunteer assistant at Amber Valley events. He has gained his Community Sports Leadership Award and is now working as part of the Sports Development team.

The Outreach schemes run at twelve locations throughout Amber Valley and are open for all children aged between eight and fifteen. For more information contact Amber Valley Sports Development Team on 01773 841372 or use the link on the right of this page.