Statement of The Youth Sports Charter

4TH COMMONWEALTH SPORTS DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE  

SPORT AND EMPOWERING THE YOUTH OF THE COMMONWEALTH

GLASGOW, 12TH -13TH AUG

CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS’ YOUTH SPORT CHARTER AND MESSAGE

A statement on sport and empowering the youth of the Commonwealth from the participants of the Commonwealth Sport Development Conference:

“Young people should be central to all levels of decision making in order to maximise the contribution of sport to youth empowerment and development”

Conference participants highlighted that the contribution sport can play in engaging and empowering the youth is well recognised in the Commonwealth. A range of commitments, initiatives, programmes and projects have been instigated championing this principle. This statement recognises these efforts and aims to add value to these efforts.

The statement represents both a commitment of the participants of the Commonwealth Sport Development Conference and a call to action to the range of stakeholders who can advance the contribution sport can make to empowering the young people in the Commonwealth.

In presenting this message the Conference also commits to advance the following key principles and asks broader stakeholders to reflect on the level to which current policy, strategy and programmes reflect these principles:

1. Ensure young people have the opportunity to participate in sport in a safe and healthy environment regardless of race, gender, sexuality, religion or abilities

2. Governments and organisations at all levels involved in sport should work together and share practice to ensure thatprogrammes are effective, and have governance structures that enable accountability

3. Physical education and sport should be delivered as a central part of the education system and referenced in the national curriculum. Physical literacy is as important as literacy and numeracy

4. Parents, coaches, volunteers, schools and communities are key stakeholders and should be engaged in involving young people in sport

5. Recognise and provide evidence that, when used appropriately, sport can be an effective tool to contribute to tackling wider social issues

6. Policy, strategy and programmes are flexible and tailored to suit the individual needs of young people

7. There should be clear sustainable progressive pathways to enable continued involvement and development in all aspects of sport

The conference participants ask that this message is communicated to the highest level of government and the international sport movement.