ST HELENS Council’s Sports Development Team is celebrating after winning a national award.

The group was recognised for its youth sports programme as it was named Door Step Sports Club of the Year.

Delighted representatives travelled down to Warwick for the StreetGames national conference which concluded with an annual awards ceremony.

The award recognises projects that provide a vibrant and varied sporting offer to young people aged from 14 to 24 with the aim of increasing motivation and sporting participation.

The team were singled out for praise of their weekly programme of free activities which include football, gym sessions, roller discos, basketball, dance fitness, darts and girl’s rugby league. The majority of the funding was granted from StreetGames, a national charity set up to change lives and change communities for the better.

Mark Jennings, who runs the programme, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to win the Door Step Sports Club of the Year award, and be recognised as best in the country.

“It is a testimony to all the great work that we do for the benefit of the community and we will go from strength to strength to ensure that we reach out to more people across the borough.”

Council cabinet member for health and wellbeing, Councillor Andy Bowden,

added: “Having visited the Youth Sports programme and seen the offer in full, I know all the young people involved in the sessions thoroughly enjoy the variety of activities available.

“Congratulations to all involved, it is great recognition for the hard work that goes on.”