Get Out Get Active links with Streetlife and William Lyons House
Our GOGA partners, Active Blackpool, are working in partnership with Active Lancashire to provide sports and gym sessions to those supported by Streetlife and William Lyon’s House. Our partners wanted to promote the benefits of physical activities to improve young people’s health and wellbeing.
These organisations are helping young people between the ages of 16-25 who are either homeless or in mid to long-term accommodation. The young people these charities support have complex needs like substance misuse issues, mental health issues, and personality disorders. Many of them are isolated and may need a hand fitting back into society.
Active Lancashire has specialist staff with real-life experience who make sure young people get access to the services they need. Active Lancashire wanted to offer the young people multi-sports and gym sessions, and looked to Active Blackpool to support the recruitment of staff members who could make this happen.
The team created a schedule of fun multisport activities which have been running on and off since October 2020.
With their help, the GOGA team in Blackpool were able to host an exciting launch week, which had a packed schedule of activities, networking mornings and social care events. This launch week brought disabled and non-disabled together in activity.
The sessions not only focused on helping young people become active. Each of the activities aimed to motivate people to look after their health and boost their confidence.
I enjoy the social aspect of coming to the sessions, and they help my mental health. I come to the gym and take part in multi-sports and table tennis sessions. It helps me get out of the house and gives me a structure to my week.
Michael, GOGA Blackpool and Active Lancashire participant
Active Lancashire were also eager to create a positive and supportive environment where young people could improve their communication skills by meeting new people.
I came to some of the sessions and really enjoyed them. I have volunteered before with Active Lancashire and with them working with GOGA I thought being a volunteer would help me learn new skills. The team have been supportive, and I now have lots of responsibilities. I have gained employment and look forward to gaining more qualifications with GOGA and supporting the programme.
Jimmy, GOGA Blackpool and Active Lancashire staff member
By May 2021, the team had successfully provided multisport and gym sessions to 120 people. Each of these sessions introduced them to new activities they hadn’t had the chance to try before.
With help from Active Lancashire, the team are continuing to develop exciting activities through rewarding partnerships.
This story is part of our campaign, #TheGOGAWay. Showing how the GOGA approach can help organisations do things differently across the UK.
About Get Out Get Active
Get Out Get Active (GOGA) is a programme that supports disabled and non-disabled people to enjoy being active together. Activity Alliance is the creator and lead partner. The programme is funded by Spirit of 2012, Sport England and London Marathon Charitable Trust.