London Sport Satellite Clubs

Satellite Clubs are a Sport England funded-project focused on local physical activity and sport clubs designed around the needs of young people. Satellite Clubs are focused on supporting an increase in the number of 14 to 19-year-olds participating regularly in physical activity and sport. The clubs meet the needs of young people and provide a positive fun experience, giving young people the confidence to take part. London Sport commissioned ConnectSport to produce a series of video case studies to tell the stories of the impact of the programme on the lives of the young people it aims to reach. Find them below.

YOUNG FOOTBALLERS MAKE 'RIGHT CHOICES'

Place a young person in a positive environment and surround them with inspiring coaches, and they are much more unlikely to make the kind of costly decisions which are marring the lives of other young south Londoners.

That’s the logic being used by the Reaching Higher Football Academy, based in and around Croydon, which uses football as a tool to help turn young people into “well-rounded people”. Read the full story.

GOALS4GIRLS DELIVERS JOURNEY OF CHANGE

A football programme designed especially for teenage girls is helping them to become mentally and physically prepared for the challenges that lie ahead of them as young adults.

Goals4Girls is an award-winning education and empowerment programme that uses football to engage with more than 400 girls in six schools across East London. Read the full story.

SKATES DAGENHAM SUPPORTING LOCAL GIRLS

Diana Thesee has long had two passions: skating and working with young people. She also wanted to put something back into her community, and tackle keenly-felt social issues such as some of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in London. 

In 2018, Diana brought all these ideas together to create Skates Dagenham. Her plan was to offer a new physical activity offer in East London which uses roller-skating to get teenage girls active and engaged in their local community. Read the full story

LEYTON GIRLS BECOMING 'CONFIDENT CITIZENS'

Creating a comfortable environment for girls to play football in can help them grow into “strong, confident citizens”. That’s the view of Louise McGing, club secretary for AFC Leyton Girls in East London which is one of the UK’s few all-female community football clubs.

The club was created in 2015 through the belief that participation in sport can be transformative for girls and young women. Read the full story.

SUPPORTING YOUNG MOTORISTS IN CROYDON

The importance of providing young people with opportunities to let off steam has been underlined by an innovative motorsport programme in south London. The Croydon Auto Bikes Scheme (CABS), has been running for more than 20 years and offers a variety of activities  using motorbikes as a tool to engage positively with young people, helping them break the cycle of anti-social and criminal behaviour.

CABS, which is managed by PlayPlace Innov8 CIC and supported by Sport England’s Satellite Clubs funding, provides workshops which enable teenagers to learn about motorbike maintenance, safety, riding skills and the consequences of illegal behaviour. Read the full story

ConnectSport is managed by experienced media executives whose aim is to increase awareness and investment in community sport by giving it the same profile afforded to elite sport. All profits are used to help us tell more stories about this rapidly growing sector, and raise awareness of the brilliant work being carried out by staff and volunteers who often go unnoticed behind the scenes at clubs, charities and in communities across the regions. Please contact us to find out how we can help tell your stories.