Community strikes Gold

On Saturday 17 October 2015, Young people from Community (Youth) on Solid Ground (COSG) became the first ever winners of a new category within the Manchester Sports Awards. The ceremony celebrates some of the excellent and inspiring achievements of positive sporting role models and community organisations from across Manchester’s thriving community sports scene.

The worthy winners took home the Youth and Community Sport Project, Gold Award. Majid Dar, Operations Manager said: “We feel delighted at winning Gold even though it is a great shock! It is an awesome feeling of recognition for the young people, the volunteers, the employees of COSG and people across the South of Manchester. It is good to know that people appreciate the impact of what we do at a grass roots level!”

One young person who has benefitted from working on the sports project said: “Before COSG, I had no place to go in the evenings and used to hang out on the streets, but they bring us together and have even helped me to get a sports certificate and I feel that I am now doing something worthwhile! When I joined COSG it gave me the confidence to change the way I was and I know that I couldn't have done it without the help of COSG.”

COSG’s ethos is to communicate with young people and inspire them so that they understand that they can bring value to their local communities. COSG bridge the gap between the adult and young person’s world by allowing them to discuss whatever issues are causing them concern and by celebrating their talents and achievements. By offering mentoring and leadership training, young people are provided with opportunities to gain the skills and confidence to negotiate the path into adulthood.

To find out more about the work of COSG, to volunteer, get involved, or fundraise contact David Marsh at Community (Youth) on Solid Ground on 0161 862 0955, or email: [email protected]