HR Media Logo

Funding boost for Sheffield sporting programme

6 November 2008

Leading leisure operator Sheffield International Venues (SIV) is celebrating after securing a funding grant in recognition of its commitment to improving out of school sporting activities for young people.

SIV has received a £1,000 Bronze Award from the Norwich Union Community Sports Fund, which will help further development of health and fitness opportunities for teenage girls in Sheffield.

The award will enable SIV, which works in partnership with Sheffield City Council and the city's Schools Sports Partnerships, to extend its GEMS Teen Girls Health and Fitness Initiative as part of an ongoing curriculum based project established in 2005.

The GEMS project has so far seen more than 500 Year nine-11 girls (13-16 year-olds) attend a programme of activities at SIV venues, including Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Hillsborough Leisure Centre and Concord Sports Centre, in place of their usual PE lessons. It aims to introduce teenage girls to activities and resources they wouldn't access in school.

GEMS also provides girls with the opportunity to become coaches, leaders and mentors to help other young people get involved and contribute further to future activity sessions, as well as encouraging them to register with local sports or fitness clubs.

Niki Connolly, sports marketing officer for Sheffield International Venues, said: "We are delighted to receive this bronze award. Our teen girls' activity programmes started again in September and we'll be setting up focus groups where the girls attending can advise us on ways the funding can best support the needs of girls their age.

"Only 15 per cent of females are regularly active in Sheffield and fewer women and girls in Yorkshire taking part in physical exercise than anywhere else in England. At SIV we are committed to helping increase the number of leisure opportunities available to teenage girls outside of school and encouraging them to become a fitness or sports club member for life."

The initiative hosts annual Teen Girl Health and Fitness Conferences, which include workshops on healthy eating, activity taster classes and inspirational guest speakers.

For more information on SIV facilities, visit www.sivltd.com/youngleisureguide.