Bringing Shroggs Park to Life Through Sport and Community

Shroggs Park in North Halifax is becoming an even more welcoming and active space for local children, young people, and residents thanks to a successful community sports project delivered by Calderdale College.

As the largest Further Education provider in Calderdale, Calderdale College is committed to supporting young people both in and beyond the classroom. Alongside providing high-quality education for learners aged 14+, the college also delivers outreach programmes for children as young as six years old, creating opportunities for young people to develop skills, confidence, and a love of physical activity.

Through a facilitated and coach-led project at Shroggs Park in Lee Mount, experienced Academy coaching staff have been delivering regular supervised sessions for children and young people aged 6 to 17. The sessions provide access to equipment, positive role models, and opportunities to take part in a range of activities including football, basketball, rugby, fun games, and sports mix sessions across the park's courts and green spaces.

Creating Positive Opportunities

The project was designed to offer diversionary activities that encourage young people to stay active, make positive choices, and use their local park in a safe and supportive environment.

The impact has been clear to see.

Children and young people attending the sessions have become more active and engaged in their community. Many have reported feeling safer with supervised activities available and have said they now make greater use of the park because of the sessions.

The presence of coaches and organised activities has also had a positive effect on behaviour within the park. By creating structured opportunities for recreation, the project is helping to foster respect for the shared community space and strengthen relationships between different groups of park users.

A Positive Difference for the Whole Community

The benefits extend beyond the young people taking part.

Regular park users, including dog walkers and other residents, have welcomed the increased activity and supervision. Many have commented that the park feels safer and more vibrant when organised sessions are taking place.

Reflecting on the project's impact, Rob Whiteley, Sports Development and Projects Officer at Calderdale College, said:

"The opportunity to provide children and young people with a mixture of diversionary and supervised activities has helped refocus them and their behaviours. We've seen small but meaningful changes in attitudes and better relationships between park users."

The project has also received strong support from local community groups, including Friends of Shroggs Park.

Jayne Spencer and the Friends of Shroggs Park team have praised the work delivered so far and the value that the project brings to local families and the wider community. Jayne told us:

"The project has helped plug a gap by providing much-needed activities and support within the park."

Looking Ahead

By combining sport, supervision, and community engagement, this partnership is helping to create a safer, healthier, and more inclusive environment for everyone who uses Shroggs Park.

Most importantly, it is giving children and young people positive opportunities to be active, build confidence, make new friends, and develop a stronger connection to their local community.

As the project continues, it stands as a great example of how sport and physical activity can bring people together and make a lasting difference to local places and communities across Calderdale.