Shire Street Sports

Bookings Calendar

Aberdeenshire Council in partnership with Grampian Police has launched a new initiative aimed at improving youth participation in sporting activities.

The Shire Street Sports mobile sports arena brings a range of sporting activities to towns and villages throughout Aberdeenshire, which includes street football, street hockey and street basketball.

The arena is aimed at tackling the underlying issues which impact on the quality of life in our communities.

Shire Street Sports will rotate around towns and villages and be delivered on the streets where young people meet during evenings, weekends and holiday times; filling a gap and countering claims by young people that there is 'nothing to do'.

Community Beat Officers and Sports coaches will engage with young people and encourage their active participation.

Speaking at the launch Chief Inspector for South Aberdeenshire Division, David Wright said '' Our communities generally experience a low crime rate. However instances of anti social behaviour can adversely affect the quality of life in our local communities. 'Therefore I am delighted that Grampian Police, along with our partners, have launched Shire Street Sports, to positively engage with young people across Aberdeenshire. By taking the facility direct to communities where young people are known to congregate, we can, along with our partners, deliver a strong positive messages about citizenship, lifestyle, health and fitness.

Andy Miller, Senior Sports Development Officer, Aberdeenshire Council added '' The Council is excited to be delivering the Shire Street Sports brand, which has been specifically designed, along with the 'pumped up' strap line, to be instantly recognisable and capture the imagination of our young people.

"We intend to employ an integrated approach with Community Learning and Development to offer support and sporting opportunities to target groups. It is important that our youth have a say in what activities are offered with the emphasis on FUN. We are also encouraging them to take up opportunities in terms of volunteering, sporting pathways and potentially becoming a coach themselves".

Shire Street Sports Arthur Gill, Aberdeenshire Towns Partnership Co-ordinator (Peterhead) “the principle benefits of utilising a mobile sports arena is that it can be easily erected in less traditional sporting locations such as supermarket car parks, town centres. It will enable us to reach into smaller target areas and assist our Community Wardens hope to engage more closely with the community. We are encouraging young adults to assist in running the programme on a volunteer basis, even if it is just helping set up and take down the arena. Training will be offered to volunteers.”

"When we first heard about this idea we knew it was something really special," said Karen Smith, Grampian Housing Association's new initiatives manager, "young people often say there is nothing to do so taking street sports to the street is a great solution. The Association is fully behind this project and has been supporting the team to make it happen."

The whole initiative is co-ordinated by Sport & Active Lifestyles. Thanks go to BG Group who are a key sponsor and The Big Picture, who has sponsored the graphic design and brand image.