Newport Live is Levelling the Playing Field's Local Strategic Partner in Gwent. Their team delivers and facilitates high-quality sporting opportunities for children, families, schools, communities, sports clubs, and local groups.

The Sports Development Team in Newport is highly regarded locally, regionally, and nationally by partners such as Sport Wales, Disability Sport Wales, Street Games, and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent; having won awards and been recognised for its innovation and good practice.

They know sport and physical activity can have such a positive impact on people's lives including children, families, specific groups, and diverse communities. The team strives to make a difference in our communities and to get more people hooked on sport for life.

Rudro Sen, Project Manager for Levelling the Playing Field, said: “The amazing work that Newport Live does within the community makes them the perfect Local Strategic Partner for our project.

“Their existing partnerships with all the other local stakeholders will contribute towards the success of the project and we cannot wait to support more BAME young people with them.”

Lucy Donovan, Senior Positive Futures Development Officer at Newport Live, spoke to Levelling the Playing Field about her organisation’s involvement in our project:

LtPF: Why are you involved with Levelling the Playing Field?

LD: “Newport Live's Positive Futures project was asked to be involved with LtPF by the Alliance of Sport due to our experience of working in the Sport for Development sector in Wales; supporting vulnerable and at-risk young people using the power of Sport to enthuse and engage.

“It made sense to be part of a national project that was helping to raise the profile of issues that a lot of BAME young people living in Newport are struggling with on a daily basis.”

 
LtPF: What are some of the current problems which need to be addressed?

LD: “There are a lot of BAME young people who have just moved to Newport or who have lived here for a long period of time who are living in extreme poverty and have a lack of opportunities.

“Many households are low income, overcrowded and struggle to understand English. Many of the young males in the families spend a lot of time out on the streets trying to make money or potentially becoming exploited by older peers.

“A number of young people have been through horrific trauma fleeing war-torn countries and come to the city for security and safety but are extremely vulnerable.

“Violence and aggression often spills out into the multi-cultural areas of the city as there is a lack of tolerance and understanding of backgrounds and needs. Their access to services is minimal and therefore needs are not met.”

LtPF: What can be done to attack and mitigate these problems?

LD: “Early intervention, engagement and sport-based diversionary services and opportunities are essential to help reduce the amount of young people getting involved in criminal behaviour.

“Support, mentoring and having engaging local role models is key in helping to create behaviour change in such vulnerable young people. Time needs to be given to build trusting relationships.

“It is great that the LtPF project is for three years and it won’t mean that services and support are withdrawn within 12 months.”

LtPF: What work you have done so far that you believe will help you in this project?

LD: “Newport has been part of a BAME Sport programme through a partnership with Sport Wales and Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) over the last few years. 

“BME Sport Cymru is an initiative designed to make it easier for BME communities to engage with sport in Wales. The project has been funded by Sport Wales and is led by WCVA.

“Newport Live has a vibrant programme that has been delivered in partnership with a number of local partners who engage regularly with young people from a range of backgrounds including Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Gypsy Roma Travellers.

“As well as having a specific programme, feedback and data from our open access diversionary provision shows that a number of our young people who attend are from BAME backgrounds and areas in Newport and regularly attend the free provision we offer."

LtPF: What are your goals when it comes to your involvement with the LtPF project?

LD: “We have a number of goals we would like to achieve:

• To make an impact and support young people through the mentoring process
• To provide as much free open access provision for BAME young people as possible
• To leave a lasting legacy through our programme to ensure that the provision exists for BAME young people past the end of the three-year LtPF project.”