THERE’S still plenty of time to get your entries in for the Rotherham Sports Awards 2018.

By Admin | 27/09/2018 Rotherham Advertiser

Sport brings together communities and improves the health and fitness of those taking part — but the achievements of those participating at a local level often go unnoticed.

We want to change this and that is why we have launched the Rotherham Advertiser Sports Awards 2018.

To make it a success, we need as many nominations as possible for the eight awards, which we are running in partnership with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and the Rotherham United Community Sports Trust

For those who make the shortlist, there will be a finals night at the New York Stadium in November, at which the winners will be announced and prizes presented by special guests.

We want entries from across the board — football, rugby, cricket, golf, athletics, hockey and tennis clubs, plus individual sports and junior organisations from the borough.

We want to recognise those who have excelled in their chosen field and those who have enabled clubs to function, benefited their communities and changed lives.

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dr Alan Billings says there are many reasons he is backing the Rotherham Sports Awards 2018.

Dr Billings said: “I would like to thank all those who give their time to volunteer with football, rugby, tennis, athletics, golf and other sporting teams that provide healthy lifestyles and activities for others.

“They provide opportunities for future sporting stars to develop. They also enable those who might not have the chance to participate in sport to do so.

“And they help to divert into purposeful activities young people who, through boredom, might otherwise get into trouble with anti-social or even criminal behaviour.”

As part of his engagement work with young people, the commissioner funds YOYO, his early intervention campaign in schools across South Yorkshire.

YOYO stands for You’re Only Young Once and helps young people research the consequences of taking part in activities that could cause them harm or be criminal.

The programme is delivered by The Bauer Academy on behalf of the commissioner. It provides classroom learning to year nine pupils in schools across South Yorkshire.

Pupils produce podcasts, videos and radio advertisements to raise awareness of the signs of child sexual exploitation (CSE) and guns, gangs and knives. These themes also incorporate topics such as sexting, drugs, alcohol, safe strangers, domestic abuse and healthy relationships. In lessons pupils research and discuss online grooming, spotting the signs of CSE and why people join gangs or carry a knife.

The recent YOYO lessons in Brinsworth Academy and Wales High School produced awareness raising radio commercials that were aired on Hallam FM, advising on the dangers of joining a gang and how to spot the signs of an unhealthy relationship.

Dr Billings added: “Young people spend most of their spare time on their mobile phones and tablets and watching YouTube videos.

“YOYO is designed to allow them to research those contemporary issues that put people in harm’s way and put their findings into a digital format. All the products on the YOYO website offer peer to peer advice on how to keep safe.

“With the use of digital technology, key messages, researched in the classroom, can be shared through digital and social media and in radio commercials, reaching a much larger audience.

“I would encourage parents and family members to watch the work pupils have produced to help them understand the issues young people are facing.

“Well done to everyone who has taken part in the workshops and provided the podcasts and radio advertisements to help me raise awareness of the issues to others.”

The campaign launched in March 2017 and has visited Brinsworth Academy, Dinnington High School, Oakwood High School, Rawmarsh Comprehensive, Wales High School, Wingfield Academy and Winterhill School, producing podcasts on a range of issues including Guns, Gangs and Knives, Domestic Abuse, Road Safety, CSE, Healthy Relationships, Drug Abuse and Fire Safety.

Podcasts and radio advertisements produced in the workshops are available on the YouTube channel and the website www.yoyosyorks.co.uk

The deadline for entries to the Rotherham Sports Awards 2018 is Friday October 19, and full details, including an entry form can be found here>> sports awards 2018 and entries submitted to [email protected]

Categories include sportsperson of the year, team of the year, coach of the year, lifetime achievement award, club of the year, contribution to disability sports, business contribution to sport and contribution to community sports.

More information will be made available in the Rotherham Advertiser over the coming weeks.

We are also looking for partners to promote this initiative.

Benefits include association with a new high-profile award, improved brand awareness in the sporting market, the opportunity to be part of a positive initiative for Rotherham, and the chance to use the awards logo on your own promotional material.

If you would like to become a sponsorship partner or find out more about the benefits, contact Kim Ollivent on 01709 768169.

Source; https://www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/leisure/view,why-its-vital-we-recognise-local-sports-heroes_28771.htm