DOORSTEP sports volunteer Ellis Baldwin from Barry has been commended for his efforts after being named a Street Games Local Hero.

Ellis, 16, has contributed more than 200 volunteer hours over the past year helping with the Doorstep Sports project delivered by the Council’s Sports Development team.

Ellis, alongside other young volunteers, including Scott Nelson of the Friday Night Football project and Henry Waddon, is undertaking volunteering as part of his Duke of Edinburgh with Stanwell School, and is part of the Young Volunteer programme which looks to develop the skills and confidence of young people through sports leadership.

The doorstep sport project, delivered alongside Barry Communities First, provides activity “on the doorstep” for young people aged nine to 16 who are generally not members of sports clubs but want to take part in sport. It is delivered as part of the Vale Sport Plan with the overall aim of increasing participation in sport and physical activity.

And with the warmer weather now here there are a number of outdoor venues where activities are taking place, including netball at Iolo Park, Treharne every Monday from 4.15pm to 4.45pm, and a Friday night football project at Holm View with police community support officers and local volunteers from 3.45pm to 4.45pm for kids aged 10 and over.

There are also multi-sport events at Pencoedtre Park, Gibbonsdown, on Mondays from 4.30pm to 5.30pm, at Central Park every Thursday led by Elim Elevate from 4.30pm to 5.30pm, and on Fridays at Alexander Gardens from 4.30pm to 5.30pm or Meggitt Road Playing Fields, Colcot, from 5.45pm to 6.15pm.

Sessions are free, and any young people interested in attending are welcome to simply turn up and get involved.

For further information on sports sessions, or for information about volunteering, please contact sports development officer Rachel Shepherd on 07730 749485, or visit www.barrystreetgames.org