A football tournament between young people from five housing estates across Newport has been hosted in Bettws by a local housing association in response to calls for safe areas for children to play in the city.
Newport based Charter Housing, the social housing branch of the not-for-profit organisation the Seren Group, hosted the five-a-side football tournament. The tournament was organised for children aged 11-16 following complaints about young people on the estates drinking alcohol, vandalising property, and playing football in the streets.
The football event is part of an Aspirations Project, which provides ongoing opportunities for young people to develop their skills and confidence, working to empower young people by using positive activities. The aim of the event was to get youths involved in sport and to raise their awareness of the training opportunities and support services that are available to them.
The tournament was funded by Safer Newport, a local Community Safety Partnership that works to reduce disorder in the area, as part of their Community Youth Project fund. It was also supported by the Welsh Assembly Government’s Communities First and Sports Development initiatives, which work together to ease community problems and provide access to sporting facilities and training – tackling issues at ground level.
More than 50 young people took part in the eight team inter-estate cup league, with the Under 13’s Bettws All Stars and the Under 15’s Mountain Climbers claiming victory in their categories. For shadow referees, Michael Swift, 17, and Louis Thomas, 18, the tournament was an opportunity to gain some practice before they start their football coaching awards with Sports Development.
Stacey Tipler, youth and community development officer at Charter, said: “This football tournament gave us a chance to meet a number of young people on our estates and help them to get actively involved in sport. It also gave the young people the chance to meet their peers from other estates and break down barriers between them.
“We had a really great response from young people and our partners and we hope to make this a regular event. The day was really positive and all the young people that took part were enthusiastic and keen to take part in future activities with us. Best of all, it didn’t rain!”
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