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Case StudyStreetGames in Gloucestera Street Cheer starOfficially launched in July 2008, StreetGames inGloucester is delivered by Gloucester City Council’sSports Development Service.The project is already generating impressive resultsfor Gloucester and is helping to achieve key criteriain the Local Area Agreement including:● Contributing to reducing obesity● Increasing capacity for communities to take actionin order to create more vibrant and thrivingcommunity● Building respect in the community and reduce antisocial behaviour● Vulnerable children and young people haveimproved life chances by maximizing their ownpotential for safe, healthy, happy and successful lives● Increase health, and reduce health inequalities● 14 - 19 year olds have improved choices andsupport suitable to their age group● Improved quality of life for people in the mostdisadvantaged neighbourhoodsOver 400 young people attend sessions in 8 wardsacross the city. Around 70 of these participantsregularly attend a Street Cheer club at a youth ledproject called Together in Matson.The club wasdevised and developed by a young volunteer whoattended a training course through StreetGames.Mainly operatingmultisport sessions,where participantsget to experience anumber of differentsports andactivities,Gloucester CityCouncil has usedStreetGames tobuild and develop links with a wide rangeorganisations including Gloucester schoolsport partnership, Gloucester youth service, youthworkers and play rangers,Aspire Sports &Cultural Trust, community andresident groups, and theGloucester Constabulary.The StreetGames results havebeen so good that furtherfunding for the project has beensecured from: ExtendedServices, Sport EnglandCommunity InvestmentFund, SportUnlimited, theFootballFoundation andthe PrimaryCare Trust.“Lots of people have had a go at me in the past,said I wouldn’t do much.Well, they were wrong.”These are the words of Dani Jones, an 18 year oldyoung mum who lives, and grew up in, Matson,Gloucestershire.From an early age, Dani had a real interest in dancebut didn’t have the opportunity to pursue herpassion. Instead, she found herself heading down ‘abad path’ which saw her kicked out of school at 14and attending anger management classes. Optionsfelt limited to Dani. Street Cheer changed that.Dani explained:“I’d liked to dance since I was about12 and pretty much taught myself the moves androutines.As I got older I went out clubbing anddancing but that was about it.Then in 2008, I startedattending youth dance sessions at the ‘Together inMatson’ project – that’s where I found out aboutStreet Cheer and the opportunity to take a StreetCheer Level 1 coaching course. Everything startedfrom there really.”changing sport,changing communities,changing livesDani got her qualification in June 2008 and fromthere has gone on to establish her own communitydance group which takes place twice a week for8-16 year olds.The Street Cheer classes haveproved so popular that there is already a squad,called Storm, of about 70 girls and boys. Dani plansto start a new class for toddlers and has theultimate goal of setting up her own dance schoolfor deprived young people.Storm / Together in Matsonhave received a grant of£1500 towards trainingcosts, equipment andcompetition costs.Thisfunding is from YoungGloucestershire, a localorganisation which helpsyoung people to make a differencein their lives and in the lives ofothers.For young mum Dani, the role hasbecome almost like a full time job,a challenge Dani relishes. Dani said:“When you tell people you leftschool at 14, they assume you’renot bright.That’s not true at all. Iam responsible for all the clubpaperwork, grant applications andbudgeting. I like doing it – gives youa sense of ‘yeah, I did that’.”The Storm Street Cheer club is nowpart of Gloucester City Council’sStreetGames.The group gives backto the community by regularlyattending and performing at localcommunity events.Dani Jones“Lots of people havehad a go at me inthe past, said Iwouldn’t do much.Well, they werewrong.”