By Rebecca Hannant
Three young women from Withernsea organised a free multi-sport festival last week that allowed local children to get involved with a range of activities.
Skye Osborne, 19, Caitlan Kirk, 18, and Mercedes Cook-Hannah, 22, organised a full event of games such as golf, cricket, Zorb football and lots more with support from StreetGames and Active Withernsea.
Speaking of the inspiration behind the event, Caitlan said: “When we started to plan to run an event in the town we started to talk to children and families, and we heard that they really wanted more activities to do locally, especially chances for children to have a go at lots of different sports with their mates.”
The event had been in the planning for months with the three gaining their StreetGames Multiskills and safeguarding qualifications over five days.
Mercedes said: “We’ve developed our communication skills, social skills and confidence. If you’d have told us a couple of months ago that we’d be talking in front of 70 people we would have laughed.”
Skye added: “It was great to see it all coming together after months of planning, and to see and hear how much the kids enjoyed it.”
Following the event, the StreetGames team will be starting four new free doorstep sports sessions starting this month, including girls’ football, golf, multi-spot and fun fitness.
Mercedes added: “We hope to plan more events like this and keep young people motivated to be active. And keep developing our coaching skills too. Watch this space.”
Dawn Mitchell, from StreetGames said: “I’ve been working with StreetGames for over 10 years and I’m so happy to be bringing the work we do to Withernsea, using the power of sport to get young people active in a safe environment with amazing coaches inspiring them.
“We are keen to work with more partners to develop more opportunities like today’s festival for young people in the town and our three young leaders are showing what can be done.”
“A big thank you to local partners for their brilliant involvement on the day – the Shores Centre, Joe Duffy Sports Development, Withernsea Golf Club, Withernsea AFC, Active Withernsea, Wicketz, Pelican Park and ERVAS.”
For information about the new weekly sessions or to get more involved with StreetGames in the town, contact [email protected].
