Sports and Activity Navigator
A key role within the Foundation
The Sports and Activity Navigator works alongside the Police, Probation and Youth Offending Service to support young people who are involved or at risk of involvement with criminal activity. The Navigator works with young people aged between 10-25 to use sport and pro-social activity in an attempt to engage them and change the trajectory of their lives.
The role involves a relationship with statutory agencies that provide social and physical activities engaging young people. The sport and mentoring element of the intervention enables a great level of engagement which is delivered by the Foundations Locally Trusted Organisations, leading to positive outcomes and further benefits such as life skills and employment opportunities.
Active Essex has worked with the Active Essex Foundation to source funding to employ the Navigator post. In turn they have helped line manage and develop relationships with statutory agency teams. This partnership has enabled the Navigator to create new relationships with agencies that can provide services to engage young people in sport intervention.
The Navigator identifies the support needs and interests of the young person, signposting young people to locally trusted organisations to ensure they feel safe and comfortable entering a new environment. For example with one case, the Navigator learnt more about the young person first to understand their goals and interests, before referring them to a MMA club that has now invited them to the advanced class, as well as offering a volunteering opportunity.
The intervention involves more than physical activity and assists the young people with reaching their life goals. This also benefits their mental wellbeing also as they can plan and look ahead to a future with the skills they learn and develop.
As the Navigator role becomes further embedded within the network, it will be important for them to expand their reach across Essex, Southend and Thurrock. With a large area to cover, it can be difficult to find capacity with interventions required.
