Saints Sports 28 August

Wed, Aug 28th 2024 at 12:40 pm - 2:40 pm

Nina Revell is the Development Officer

An Introduction to Sport Day was organised by Saints Sports for children selected by Families First.

The idea from our member Krishna was supported with a small donation.

Guest speaker was Nina Revell, Development Officer for the University’s ‘Saints Sports’, the body which manages all the sporting activities within St Andrews University. Recently, through the good offices of one of our Club members, Krishna Krishnaswamy, a link had been established between Saints Sports and local charity 'Families First', whereby children are given the opportunity to participate in lots of different sports. Today’s talk concentrated on 'Saints Sports’’ involvement in developing sport in Zambia through an umbrella organisation called ‘Sport Action Zambia’ (SPZ). The main objectives of the organisation are to encourage children in Zambia to take part in a wide variety of sport, learning about coaching and teaching sport and developing skills whereby long term programmes can be developed. While mainly sport-related these programmes also cover welfare matters and issues which are frequently not discussed with young people within their individual families. Funds raised by 'Saints Sports' and the other eight UK Universities who form what is known as The Welfare Group are spent on supporting groups at community level where money is desperately needed, in contrast to elite sport which gets most of any available money in Zambia. Each year 'Saints Sports' invite applications from students to take part in SPZ. After a rigorous interview process 4 or 5 students are selected and sent to Zambia for the summer months to help develop the various programmes there. Personal skills are important as well as PVG clearance and basic qualifications in coaching. The key is getting ‘the right person’. The scheme has proved to be a great success -outcomes and achievements are monitored on a regular basis. Most importantly there is clear evidence that more young people in Zambia are participating in physical outdoor sport, developing team leadership skills and achieving greater integration within the community. Nina’s talk was much enjoyed by the members and an appropriate vote of thanks was given by Krishna Krishnaswamy.