Derby’s second Festival of Sport proved a huge hit last week, with hundreds of children attending a week-long programme of sports and games.
Taking place at Derby Arena from 4 – 8 August, it was the latest in a calendar of events organised by the Derby Promise initiative, which partners with local businesses to provide cultural, sporting and employment experiences for the city’s children and young people.
Andy Smith, Strategic Director for People Services at Derby City Council, explained:
We know from research conducted with our young people that good physical and mental health is high on their list of priorities. Taking part in enjoyable physical activity and having the opportunity to socialise with peers are great ways to achieve these goals and ensure that as many children as possible have something to look forward to over the summer break.
The Festival of Sport was created in response to this need and has had a fantastic response from our young people and parents alike.
Derbyshire Institute of Sport co-produced the festival, providing a packed and varied schedule of activities for all abilities. Children were split into groups, each of which took the name of a country, leaning into the idea of a global sporting event and building a sense of playful competition. Professional coaches then put the groups through their paces, teaching them the key points of each sport and refereeing friendly games between teams.
Activities ranged from netball and hockey to dodgeball and a variety of wheelchair sports, with wheelchair basketball and badminton being particularly popular. Budding bowlers tried their hand at indoor cricket, while others took to the mat and learnt some impressive judo moves.
Any children feeling a bit overwhelmed by the high-energy atmosphere were able to take a break in the sensory room, designed in collaboration with our group of Young SEND Ambassadors. The action paused at midday so that everyone could refuel with a hot, nutritious meal, and then it was back to the pitch!
The Derbyshire Institute of Sport partnered with Derby Promise in producing the festival, and Chloe Maudsley, their Co-Founder and Managing Director, said:
The Festival of Sport is an important piece of The Derby Promise jigsaw, as it enables Derby’s families to access a week of new opportunity, combining a range of sports activities, a hot meal and expert coaching. The event aims to inspire all young people to have the confidence to know that there are opportunities in sport for them.
Councillor Paul Hezelgrave, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Skills stopped by to experience first-hand the excitement and energy in the arena. Reflecting on the collaboration that has brought the event together, he said:
Events like this really underline how much we can offer our children and young people when the city joins together to create opportunities and show them what’s possible.
From sponsorship and promotion, to volunteering and coaching, local businesses have really stepped up to create something memorable for these children over the summer break. The energy here is fantastic, and it’s great to watch these young people cheering each other on as they try new sports and grow in confidence.
The Festival of Sport follows other popular Derby Promise events aimed at providing enriching experiences to inspire Derby’s children. These have included the recent Dream Fest, where learners were encouraged to explore careers in the creative industries, to dream big, and learn about turning creative passions into careers.
Earlier in the year, Derby Promise’s Festival of Ideas saw school-age children come together at Pride Park for a day of activities and talks around climate change and potential careers in science, technology, engineering and maths.
You can learn more about the Festival of Sport on YouTube. You can also see what else happened at Derby Dream Fest on our YouTube.