Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) Fun Day – 28th May 2009
On Thursday 28th May 2009 35 young people attended a PAYP fun day in Clumber Park, organised by ‘A Sporting Chance’ as part of their Worksop PAYP delivery.

The day started at 9.00am with young people being picked up in the ‘A Sporting Chance’ minibuses at Retford and Langold; with further stops at Manton, Carlton-in-Lindrick and Rhodesia. When those young people had been taken to Clumber Park both buses then went to Valley School, for a central Worksop pick up of young people.
Activities on the day for the young people to take part in were football, panna soccer, ultimate frisbee, power kites, powerisers, cricket and hockey.

All the young people had the chance to look at the range of activities that ‘A Sporting Chance’ have planned for them over the summer (6 weeks holiday) and choose the ones they would like to go on. These activities included horse riding, canoeing, climbing/abseiling, camping in the Peak District, fishing, visits to an animal park and waterfowl reserve, ice hockey week at Bradford Ice Hockey Club, street dance and for those aged sixteen and over, the opportunity to take part in a Level 2 Community Sports Leader Award.

Amongst the young people attending were some who had achieved Young Leaders Award, Level 1 in Sports Leadership Award, Level 2 in Community Sports Leadership Award (including First Aid) and Level 1 in Basketball Coaching qualifications during other PAYP holiday periods with ‘A Sporting Chance’. These young people were invited to support the ‘A Sporting Chance’ coaches on the day and provided other young people with excellent role-models in their peer group who they can aspire to emulate.

Emily Jones, the County Operations Manager for Connexions Nottinghamshire, presented some certificates on the day and the sense of pride in the young people, and their peers as they congratulated them, was tremendous. Emily stated that the young people who had been through the Sports Leadership Award as a result of PAYP were truly inspiring. To hear their stories about where they had come from and how far they had progressed made me realize that when agencies work in partnership and put the young person at the centre young people really can turn their lives around.

Also there was the PAYP Personal Adviser and Generic Personal Advisers from the Worksop Connexions Centre, offering their support to young people and building relationships with them that can be taken into their working with these, and other young people.

Laura Moore, the Link Personal Adviser at North Notts. College commented, “I think everyone agreed the day was a success for both advisers and young people. As an adviser I was able to get to speak to the young people in a relaxed setting and engage with them; rather than through a formal interview setting. Some of the young people I already knew but I did make contact with some who were likely to be coming to college in the future where I hope they will now feel comfortable enough to approach me in college. It was great to see the young people enjoying themselves in a place they might not usually visit. I’d also like to say that I enjoyed my go on the powerisers but am afraid that I won’t be repeating that experience in a hurry!”

Adding to the holistic support approach, that PAYP enhances for young people, other agency staff also supported young people on the day. These included Young Potential, who also deliver PAYP activities in Worksop; the Youth Offending Service, Face-It and staff from activity providers in the Peak District who will be working with the young people during the summer holidays. The relationships built between young people and these agency staff was clear to see and will aid the work we all do.
One of the staff said that he had been impressed by the way young people from different areas had developed their social skills with each other and had built friendships.

Nic, a coach with ‘A Sporting Chance’, said she had enjoyed every part of the day and loved to see the enjoyment on all the young people’s faces. She also wanted to say a big well done to all the young people who had gained sports leadership awards and had been a tremendous help on the day.

Comments made by the young people on the day included, “Everyone has been so helpful”, “It kept me out of trouble and I would like to do fishing in the summer”, “I really got so much confidence and am proud of myself for being able to do the powerisers” and “It was great to meet new people and make new friends”. From the questionnaires that were handed out it was obvious that many of the young people would not have been taking part in any physical activity, but playing on games consoles or watching TV, so the day was definitely a plus to their general health and well being as well.