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Sports Activities at Portsmouth City of Sanctuary

Sports Activities at Portsmouth City of Sanctuary

Portsmouth City of Sanctuary sports activities project, headed up by Roni Edwards, has been busy offering a range of physical activities across the city of Portsmouth for our sanctuary seeking community.

Current sports delivery includes

  • Football (Tuesday and Saturdays)
  • Women’s only gym sessions
  • Women’s only swimming lessons (Wednesdays)
  • Boxing (Monday and Wednesdays)

Swimming

There have been 24 weeks of swimming lessons provided for 16 women and these took place at St Luke’s Sports centre and the Holiday Inn hotel. These lessons will re-commence in September.

“After two weeks of learning, I feel like I’ve improved ..I’m happy  thank you”  said Christiana

Football

The team have completed their project with Pompey in the Community which included 7 regular participants and an opportunity for two young people to complete the Street Soccer Academy. They are now focused on building a league team with Solent Sports at the Milton Cross Academy base (Tuesday & Saturdays) which  includes 19 participants.

“I am keeping my body fit” said Equitera, football participant

Gym

The University of Portsmouth’s School of Sport Health and Exercise Science research project looking into strength and conditioning training is now complete and the publication is due out the Autumn. The University recently hosted a ‘Pint of Science’ evening at Aspex Portsmouth’s gallery which focused on developing sport and physical activity programmes for and with individuals forced to flee their homes.

The team are now working with BH Live Pyramids to provide women’s only gym sessions  on a Wednesday for up to ten women.

Boxing

Boxing is offered as an alternative to football and the gym and a number of people have signed up for it.

Pamodzi Creatives Inspirational Women of Portsmouth Performance project

It was great to see that 8 PCOS sanctuary seekers participated in the this performance project with 4 people performing at the Awards Ceremony alongside 100 other performers.  

Denis, a dance participant said “The dancing, it scared me, but I’m glad. We danced on the stage for hundreds of people. I remembered my dance. It was fun”

Watch the showreel here on Instragram of people enjoying all of the different sports activities.

Project lead, Roni Edwards, said “I’m so pleased to see people enjoying themselves by taking part in these sports activities. They have made friends, increased their physical strength and improved their mental wellbeing whilst getting to know the city better”.