As part of Levelling the Playing Field’s focus on partnerships in November, we showcase a collaboration in Sheffield involving two of our specialist partners that is developing the next generation of confident and qualified leaders.
NextGen, the youth leadership project led by national doorstep sport charity StreetGames, has recruited 17 volunteers from Levelling the Playing Field’s specialist partners Saalik Youth Project and 15 from ReachUp Youth, all based in the ethnically diverse Sheffield community of Burngreave.
The partnership project, which also involves Voluntary Action Sheffield, Sheffield City Council and the local School Sports Partnership, encourages 16-21-year-olds to volunteer and take social action through a bespoke programme including training, experience, mentoring and support.
The cohort of young people on the NextGen project from our specialist partners Reach Up Youth
The project’s aims are to increase confidence and raise aspirations in young people from low-income families, support and mentor young people who may be uncertain of their future direction, allow them to meet peers from across the city, give them ownership of the project and empower them to make decisions, track their volunteering journey, create role models, give them skills to look after their own wellbeing and celebrate their successes.
One youngster who has benefited from the partnership project is 17-year-old Sami Baghdadi. He has volunteered at Reach Up Youth in Burngreave for the last five years, coaching, helping to organise sports events, supporting others’ mental wellbeing and being a leader and role model for younger children in the area.
In October, Sami won the National StreetGames NextGen ‘Young Leader of the Year’ award for his dedication to volunteering with ReachUp, having previously won the NextGen Regional award for Yorkshire and Humber.
“It began five years ago when there was a lot of bad stuff going in around the area,” said Sami. “Every Saturday we hooked up to play sports, socialise and talk about our week. There was a really good network of peers.
“It’s just grown and grown and we’re now getting involved in so many great projects and have got national attention.
“Throughout the whole five years I volunteered every week and at every big event. It became part of my life and I’ve made lifelong friends.”
Sami with his mum, Safiya Saeed, founder of our specialist partners Reach Up Youth
Sami’s regional and national StreetGames NextGen awards follow on from his nomination in the 2021 National Diversity Awards.
“Winning the NextGen awards makes me proud of what I do and it’s an indication that I’m doing the right things. A lot of people my age tend to fall into a different route and way of thinking.
“It motivates me to do more. I’ve discovered a passion for leading and organising. It’s really satisfying when something you work so hard at comes off really well and gets the reaction and attention you wanted from young people.
“I organised a basketball tournament in collaboration with Sheffield Sharks and all the money raised went towards new equipment for the kids. It’s about the satisfaction of the event going well and bringing a positive impact to the community or to people in crisis.”
To read more about our specialist partners Reach Up Youth, click here.