Sky Sports Living For Sport Awards presented at Twickenham
Friday 9 June 2017 15:06, UK
Sky and the Youth Sport Trust (YST) celebrated a 14-year partnership which has helped more than 500,000 young people at Twickenham on Friday.
Sky Sports Living for Sport has enabled YST to offer a free programme to UK and Irish secondary schools using lessons from sport to raise young people's aspirations and teach them important skills such as teamwork.
Founded on the belief that sport has the power to transform young people's lives, the initiative aims to help them build practical skills and self-confidence.
Half a million young people have taken part over the past 14 years and 91% of teachers reported improvements in self-confidence in those young people that took part.
Handed out at Twickenham on Friday, the 2017 Sky Sports Living for Sport Awards recognise the success of students and teachers who have taken part in the initiative over the last two years.
Wayne Instrell, winner of the Inspirational Student Journey award after being Student of the Year 2013, told Sky Sports News HQ: "It's changed my life completely.
"It just started off simply by me PE teacher asking me if I wanted to learn how to swim. It was fantastic how it came around and I learned how to swim through it within six weeks and was nominated for student of the year.
"Before Maggie coming in I was football mad because my dad could have been a professional footballer before he passed away. I done a rugby drill with her and she has built my passion for rugby. I went to my club in Bedford and I am still playing to this day.
"I've gone along to coach, go into schools and do speeches and I am now at university. It's given me tremendous opportunities. It's not just the sport, it builds confidence, breaks down barriers, it helps people build a successful life and plan for the future. Who knows where I would be without this project."
The ceremony at the home of England rugby also recognised outstanding achievements from students, teachers and athletes across the past 14 years.
More than 100 children were on hand, along with 20 athlete mentors, with awards given out, in the Royal Box, by rugby players past and present Thinus Delport, Heather Fisher and Maggie Alphonsi.
Former world cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson, one of the scheme's mentors, told Sky Sports: "It's opened their minds and given them self-confidence and helped them work together.
"You've seen some amazing students over the years and this is a way to recognise everything they've done over the years.
"I wish this was available when I was a lad to help me see what I wanted to do. It could have helped me be successful earlier - it shows the benefits of how you can get involved - this is something very special today.
"Recognition is everything - and to be here at the home of England rugby - these kids will think it's special and will inspire them to achieve even more - it's giving back to them for everything they've done."
