SUNEE Street League
Target Group: Adults - Male & Female
The Queen’s and Durham Campus’ Drug Intervention Programmes are an integral part of the Government’s strategy for tackling drug addiction. Durham University has now been involved in the project since 2005, in conjunction with SUNEE (Sports Universities North East England), and has secured significant funding from HEFCE and the Northern Rock Foundation to develop the project further. The project was renamed SUNEE Street League in August 2009 having been previously known as Second Chance. Adults identified by Drug Intervention Outreach Workers attend both Queen’s Campus Stockton and Maiden Castle Durham once a week to take part in a sport and fitness programme. Regular regional football finals are organised with teams from the other four North East Universities in the SUNEE organisation: Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside Universities.
This highly important project, central to all of Durham’s outreach work, delivers sport and activity sessions, coached and supervised by trained personnel, to clients recovering from substance misuse, some of whom are involved with the criminal justice system. Clients attend each week to use the superb facilities at the Maiden Castle Sports Centre and sessions last for two hours and include lunch and hot refreshments.
Sports offered range widely to suit all tastes. Coaches, staff and volunteers put on football, gym, kickboxing, trampolining and belly dancing. Clients are rewarded for their efforts by away days to local attractions several times each year. 2008 saw clients participate in high-roping, bowling, archery, fencing, white-water rafting and climbing. Two local football tournaments went ahead, complete with buffet and trophies, as well as participation in two regional tournaments. One of the highlights of the year was a team of clients taking part in the BBC "Your Game" tournament.
This year has seen 170 new clients attend, increasing the number who have participated to 578. Over 60 students have volunteered since the projects conception and this number rises month after month.
The results have been staggering. 9 clients have started a National Governing Body Award for various sports and activities. A mentoring programme has also begun, with select clients acting as coaches and mentors for others. This has enabled them to access further training and receive certification from the University. Considering the geographical area covered by the Durham sports centre alone, the register numbers are hugely impressive. Rain or shine, these numbers have been sustained throughout the year, and this is due in no small part to the commitment and enthusiasm of the staff and students involved. Their desire to deliver the best possible sessions has and will continue to create the welcoming and fun-filled environment so central to the clients’ needs.
DURHAM CLIENTS:
50 in total including 8 women
University Students Involved:
16
University Staff Involved:
4
Lead Contact:
Emma Hall-Craggs, emma.hall-craggs@dur.ac.uk
QUEENS CAMPUS CLIENTS:
21 Males
University Students Involved:
2
University Staff Involved:
1
Lead Contact:
Steve Wright, s.j.wright@dur.ac.uk
A year on the Second Chance Programme - Football
I began helping with the Second Chance project early in October 2008, having been contacted about it due to my college football captaincy. This was a great idea of getting the word out that there were opportunities for voluntary work, and I’m glad to see this has been expanded to the Freshers Fair.
At first I was not sure what to expect, having only been told the people involved would be from disengaged groups of the local community. However, I was immediately at ease in everyone’s company, especially once the football began. A lead coach led the sessions, with several student volunteers helping to ensure the smooth running each week. Clients are put through their paces with fitness exercises, as well as ball work and I was able to give specialised goalkeeper training to a couple too. The facilities at Maiden Castle are perfect for a project such as this, the slightly sanded Astroturf a quick and painless surface to train on. As the weeks progressed, there was a clear sense that clients skills were improving, as they became more acquainted to each other and worked in teams much more closely. This would prove vital in their run to the Regional Football final, and participation in the BBC Your Game tournament.
With a lively banter amongst the clients, sessions flew by in no time. Everyone would look forward to the competitive match at the finale, viewing it as an opportunity to put the skills perfected in the drills and activities to good use.
The courtesy and respect amongst the group was there for all to see. Quick to apologise if a foul challenged was committed, there was never an altercation which wasn’t settled with a blow of the referees whistle. Constructive words were aplenty as each match saw levels of commitment beyond any I’d ever experienced in relatively non-competitive arena.
As a reward for their hard work, dedication and willingness to co-operate in everything the coaches and volunteers had to offer, the clients were given several days out throughout the year. I was lucky enough to accompany the group on the trip to the man-made white water rafting centre near the Tees Barrage. This proved to be a mix of thrills, scares, splashes and for some, sadly those on my boat an absolute drenching. A fantastic time was had by all and spirits were lifted at the prospect of more trips away. The next one of these I managed to come was to a high-roping and archery centre in Hartlepool. Not so wet this time, but a lack of water-chill was replaced with wind as everyone took part in high roping to the very top of the course. Inside, where it was a little warmer, archery was practised to perfection with the help of experts.
Football sessions kept going every week and the standards and enjoyment continued to rise. The year finalised with a mini-tournament followed by presentations of medals, accompanied by a buffet, in Maiden Castle. The success of the scheme can easily been seen through the sustained number of clients turning up week in, week out. I believe these were two hours everybody looked forward to, staff or client
