After a two year break due to the pandemic, the South East’s biggest multi-activity youth event is back. Registration is now open for beginners across the county, in a range of free activities, from girls' football to Go Tri.
For more than two decades the Specsavers Surrey Youth Games has been giving selected young people their first taste of a way to stay active and build new skills – all for free.
Organised by Active Surrey, the programme is aimed squarely at young people who don’t normally get the chance to join any sort of traditional sports club, due to a lack of travel options or family circumstances. Thanks to free training provided by their local council, 6-16 year olds can choose an activity and go from complete beginner to competent player in as little as six to eight weeks.
Taking part helps children make friends and unearth hidden talents as they develop their skills – previous Games have seen later national players and even Olympic medallists play a part. They’ll also have the chance to represent their local community at a free celebration event at the Surrey Sports Park in June, in front of their families.
How kids can get involved
Activities vary by age and availability but every borough and district in Surrey is offering free training, initially to their most deserving young people who might not be able to afford a place at a conventional club. To take part, parents or carers just need to register their child online, which can be done via the Active Surrey website www.activesurrey.com/SYG
Training – which in most cases kicks off after Easter - can usually be adapted for those with additional needs, although the Games’ dance event is specifically designed to be inclusive.
Depending on age, children can get involved in street basketball, inclusive dance, judo, tennis, girls’ football and GoTri (a combination of an indoor row, cycle and an outside run). Swimming confidence games for would-be paddlers will also run, but places for these are reserved for referrals from schools.
Emma Das, Event Lead Officer at Active Surrey is looking forward to seeing young ‘Gamers’ build their confidence as they work towards the main celebration event on Saturday 18 June: “After a tough two years for young people, the Specsavers Surrey Youth Games programme is a great example of councils and communities pulling together to create something fun for those kids who don’t always get the chance to be involved in sport.”
“As the Games are a beginners’ event, the emphasis is on learning and participating rather than competition, so it’s perfect for young people who might not always enjoy sport, or would benefit from being more active.”
Parents can find out more, watch a video from a previous Specsavers Surrey Youth Games and register their 6-16 year old by visiting www.activesurrey.com/SYG