Blog: Over and out!

I started volunteering for Streetsport in 2011. A long, long time ago and a lot has changed since!

It was a far smaller run ship back then but still loads of fun. I’d meet up with the team on weeknights and help put together the portable panels (an absolute staple of Streetsport sessions) around the city in areas like Dyce, Tillydrone, Northfield and Torry.

Most memorably, we attended Dyce where the fire service would regularly turn up for some absolutely fierce 5-a-side battles in their huge, industrial boots. The young participants held their own too, of course…

Work placements and Erasmus adventures took me off-piste for a while but I re-joined in 2013 as a paid coach. By this time, I’d convinced my more rugby inclined flatmate, Alex, to get involved and we proceeded to take charge of sessions at the former Torry Academy on Tullos Circle.

We’d pitch up with the court in their playground every Wednesday night and, along with a load of volunteers and regular participants, have a brilliant time.

Many of the young participants from our Torry Wednesday sessions went on to become volunteers too which was great for them as well as very rewarding for us.

Side-note that I feel inclined to add: We welcomed some exchange students to the session as volunteers for 3 or 4 weeks one winter (2013? Maybe ‘14). One of whom was a girl called Liza from Russia. Alex, I’m sure he won’t mind me saying, put in considerable and admirable effort (you know, above and beyond welcoming a volunteer) in getting to know her despite the fact her flight was already booked to return home in a matter of weeks. Long story short which includes a lot of Skype phone calls in the next room, many flights, holidays and initial translation issues… they’re now married and living together in London! I know! A Streetsport marriage! Mad.

‘Torry Wednesday’s’ live on and is still one of Streetsport’s most well participated session. Now though, the sessions have a very different backdrop.

The Torry Academy we used to ball at is now defunct and awaiting demolition but down the road at Tullos Primary is a brand new Cruyff Court, Aberdeen’s second of its kind after Catherine Street became Cruyff Court Denis Law.

This is perhaps emblematic of the transformational changes that I’ve seen while with Streetsport and latterly under the umbrella of the Denis Law Legacy Trust. The growing partnerships that have been forged have enabled Aberdeen to become a better city thanks to the DLLT. Indeed, one of my favourite collection of images is the before and afters from Catherine Street. That sort of facility shouldn’t ever be underestimated. For a kid who doesn’t have the money or know-how to be involved in organised football or access to a 4G pitch, it’s an absolute game-changer.

I left (again) to concentrate on full-time employment (mistake) in around 2016 but in the meantime the Trust, with Mark pulling the strings, were making huge strides in Aberdeen communities and attracting participation numbers way beyond what we’d managed back in the days when I started.

In 2018 I returned to RGU to undertake an MSc. Coincidentally, and very luckily, this coincided with a vacancy at Streetsport as their previous Project Assistant had moved on.

This was a relatively new role which involved working on the website, social media, participation statistics and more. I met with Mark, applied, and fortunately enough got the job.

My main aim, among others, was to boost the profile of the organisation by using social media and the website to create and publish content that was attractive for our target audiences. Surrounded by boisterous sporty characters who excel at sessions (or ‘yellows’ as Hannah calls them), I knew I could add value to Streetsport from the office which we could both benefit from.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work under Mark who allowed me the flexibility of fitting my hours in around my uni’ course and personal life. He’s also insistent that his employees self-develop whilst also meeting their job objectives, something I and the team are very grateful for. With that, and constant support from both him and the rest of the team, it’s been a hugely rewarding 17 months or so. I even got to meet Willie Miller… twice!

In 2011 there was one full-time member of staff plus a couple of part-time assistants. Returning this time around, there was Mark, Hannah and Kiana working full-time plus a bank of paid coaches and volunteers. With Findlay now on-board too, there’s been constant growth and vital investment to keep the organisation, and particularly the Streetsport programme, at the top of its game.

Last week I wrote on social media how the first quarter of this year was our best ever in terms of participations which is a truly great achievement. This is especially impressive, and something that the entire charity should be proud of, given the last three weeks of it have been entirely wiped out due to the current situation.

With the trustee’s and a dedicated steering group who back up the staff with what they aim to achieve, Streetsport’s in a great position to thrive again in communities soon- fingers crossed sooner rather than later.

We got told to work from home around a fortnight ago but, like so many, not with the full understanding of what was going on around us or with the thought that we’d potentially not see each other for months later.

It’s therefore a pretty odd and unfulfilling way to leave an organisation that I’ve become so close to (no cake in the kitchen or anything!) but such is life for us all at the moment and safety is correctly paramount.

Most importantly, when this vacancy pops up on your newsfeed please do not hesitate to apply- especially if you enjoy writing, social media and working for an organisation that makes a genuine difference. 10/10 would recommend; rewarding, fulfilling and a brilliant team and environment.

Until then, look out for each other, stay safe and stay at home!

Cheers,

Lewis