The Hargreaves Foundation supports SELFA Children’s Charity

The Trustees of The Hargreaves Foundation are happy to announce that funding has been allocated to SELFA, a children’s charity with a track-record of delivering successful initiatives through sport in North Yorkshire.

Children are referred to SELFA by professionals, and around 50% of these children have a physical or learning disability. While physical activity is known to enhance both physical health and mental wellbeing, improve confidence and peer acceptance, and is associated with academic achievement and improved concentration, sports participation by young disabled people is lower than their peers and a lack of suitable of local sports facilities is an important factor.

SELFA will use funding from The Hargreaves Foundation to help deliver 200 free multi-sport sessions to children and young people throughout the academic year starting September 2024. There will be opportunities to engage with the wider community through visiting local facilities such as the golf driving range, swimming pool, tennis centre and squash courts. Young people will also be able to work towards their Sports Leaders award and volunteer at SELFA groups which could lead towards a coaching qualification.

The children accessing the project may already be familiar with SELFA through attending other activities or accessing mentoring or wellbeing groups with SELFA staff in school. By involving trusted adults and delivering the sessions in a comfortable familiar space, the project will encourage engagement from those who are usually reluctant to take part in physical activity or struggle because of emotional and behavioural needs. With a firm commitment to helping all children build resilience, thrive and achieve, SELFA will run weekly groups during the school term and activity sessions during the holidays.