Sport and fitness coaches shortlisted for national awards

Scott Hardy, Matthew Howells and Aleksandra Savina at the Darnhill estate in Heywood

Scott Hardy, Aleksandra Savina and Matthew Howells are finalists in the 2018 Street Games National Awards organised by the Street Games Network charity.

• Scott is a finalist in the Project of the Year category for a programme called Fit, Fed and Read. 
• Aleksandra is a finalist in the Coach of the Year category for running a programme called Rochdale Us Girl.
• Matthew is a finalist for the Outstanding Work in Community Safety category.

Scott, aged 33, from Heywood, has worked with youngsters on housing estates in areas across the borough including Darnhill, Langley, Freehold, Falinge, Turf Hill and Smallbridge.

He said: “My role is working with groups of young people who may face particular barriers in taking part in sport or being active. This may include having very few or no sports facilities where they live, growing up in a low-income family, being a young carer, or experiencing challenging home lives. We have different activities for different age groups, from young children to teenagers.”

Aleksandra is a single mother who moved to a place where she didn't know anyone to work full time, including many evening and weekends delivering community dance and fitness programmes across Rochdale and Manchester.

Matthew has been running sports activities for youngsters in areas with very few facilities and tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.

All three coaches work for Link4Life.