SEMSA Summer Academy

The Scottish Ethnic Minority Sports Association (SEMSA) has been running a successful summer academy for the past 9 years. The academy is part of the organisations annual activities targeting the black minority ethnic (BME) communities in Glasgow. Over the years the summer academy has seen the programme incorporate a wide range of sports. The programme each year has gone from strength to strength with the initial summer academy registering 50 young people and now registering up to 250 young people.

The concept of the summer academy endeavours to bring children from different backgrounds together using one common interest; sport. The activities within the academy not only mould the young people’s interaction with peers from diverse communities, but the allow them to have fun taking part in physical activity.

The Strengths of the programme are quite clear:

• Large participation
• Young motivated team of volunteers
• Safe and secure environment
• Well programmed environment
• Challenging attitudes/perceptions on health related issues.

This years Summer Academy took place at Cartha Queens Park Rugby Club. Activities include: football, cricket, athletics, tennis, rugby, games and arts and crafts. Moreover, SEMSA used this opportunity to ensure that the young people took part in workshop based sessions on: healthy lifestyles and community safety.

The continued success of the academy is also a result of ensuring the programmes delivered is peer led. A group of 20 young volunteers, both male and female aged 25 and under helped to deliver the successful programme. Many of SEMSA’s existing young volunteers had attended the summer academy and have now returned in order to give something back to their communities. SEMSA not only facilitate a summer academy, they look to encourage young adults to become role model for future generations.