(Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP & Diane Modahl taking part in a Cheerleading session in Wigan , March 2008)

 How many times have you heard someone say ‘it’s because there’s nothing for children to do’ when they talk about anti-social behaviour? 

Well carry on reading because there’s plenty on offer when you know where to look!

Wigan Sports Development Team's 'Get Active in Your Community' programme aims to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour across the borough.

Regular community sessions provide a diverse range of sporting opportunities such as basketball, Street Dance, football, cheerleading and Multi Skills for young people aged 8 upwards to participate in on a weekly basis.

Get Active in Your Community is supported by StreetGames - a national charity dedicated to developing sport in disadvantaged communities. It is largely funded by The Football Foundation and Wigan Council. Greater Manchester Police have been able to monitor the impact of the programme through criminal damage figures, highlighting a reduction of 28 per cent on StreetGames nights in Atherton and 75 per cent in Abram.

The programme currently consists of over 20 weekly sessions and in 2008 attracted over 22,000 participants, and increase of 78% on 2007. The climax to each years activities is the chance for young people to take part in the North West StreetGames Festival at SPortCity, Manchester in August.

The Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, speaking after attending a StreetGames session in Wigan in March 2008 said: “It is vital that we provide our young people with as many opportunities to take part in activities that have great short and long term physical and social benefits. The StreetGames sessions are an exciting concept and I'm glad to see it really coming to fruition and having such an impact.”

The 'Get Active in Your Community' programme has also been successful in providing additional sporting opportunities in partnership with the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and Lancashire FA. The “Game On” Midnight Football Leagues provide regular opportunities for young people to take part in a competitive football league, with the overall winners representing the Wigan borough at regional and, potentially, National Finals. 

If you would like further information on your closest 'Get Active in Your Community' session please contact Sports Development on 01942 404982 or visit http://www.wlct.org/sport or www.wbsc.org.uk.