In the UK, Birmingham and Bradford Leeds’ primary and secondary state schools, community tennis courts and cricket grounds.
The main areas of focus are to:
encourage young people and their communities to increase physical activity and improve health and wellbeing
provide 1-2 hour coaching sessions every week throughout the year
provide fun 1-2 week spring & summer camps
ensure that as many school-age children as possible in inner-city areas of disadvantage have the opportunity to play sport
offer those children after-school and in curricular clubs in safe surroundings
SLF’s Operations Director, Mohammed Naeem, welcomes Pakistan Cricket Team to Nansen Primary School, Birmingham
Pilot programmes from 2010-2013 centred on 4 grounds in Birmingham in conjunction with 32 local primary and secondary schools. Sponsored by the NHS, each school received a 10 week healthy lifestyle and cricket coaching programme delivered in 1 hour sessions by SLF coaches.
This work continued and has expanded to include:
football sessions commissioned by Birmingham City Council for newly immigrated communities
cricket programmes to unite diverse communities under the PREVENT programme
multisports to invite more young children from challenged communities to be active
From 2020-present day, this work has progressed and now includes the provision of tennis, cricket, fitness and football programmes to a further 20 schools in IMD 1-2 areas in Birmingham and the Black Country, UK, see NEWS.
Left: SLF Coaches at summer camp, Birmingham. Centre and right: Sloane Stephens meets SLF students, Birmingham
Left: SLF coach Reuben kicks for goal. Centre: Kabir Ali, former England cricketer presents summer camp prize. Right: England cricketer Moeen Ali demonstrates bowling technique