What We Do
- We're here for Sunderland's young people, week in, week out. Sport is how we do it. A good start in life is why.
Why we're here
North East Sport exists to be there for Sunderland’s young people, week in, week out, so they grow up with a solid foundation and become good people.
Not football. Being there. Football, camps, clubs and everything else on this page are how we do it, and they’re the reason a kid walks through the door. They’re not the reason we exist.
"It's not what you do in life, it's what you leave behind. For us that's a young person who comes back years later, on the right path, and treats people the way they were treated here."
Peter Curtis
The culture at North East Sport is hard to describe and easy to feel. These are the five things we do that make it what it is.
We stay
Eighteen years, same faces. We know your name and we notice when you’re not there.
We respect people and expect it back
Coaches turn up on time with the kit right. The kid who mouths off gets told and gets kept. Parents get a straight answer.
We give everyone a job to do
Volunteers, coaches, and a nine year old who has to turn up because ten others are counting on them. Being needed is half of a foundation.
We keep the door open
Prices as low as they’ll go, free places wherever funding allows, toddlers upwards, girls and boys.
We compete properly
Proper leagues, proper standards. Winning teaches a kid that effort has consequences.
- Our numbers speak for themselves
Every week
- We measure our success in actual lives changed
Featured Stories
Our Coaches
Our coaches have been fantastic and over the years we are proud to have mentored and support dozens of volunteers.
Communities Together
Over eighteen years we’ve brought communities together through sport. Thousands of young people have played with us, whatever their background or ability, and we’re proud of that. We keep going, every day.
Success
North East Sport has won awards for its work in the community, including the Durham County FA Respect and Fair Play Award and recognition from the Barclays Premier League, and was shortlisted for the Sunderland Echo Portfolio Business Awards in 2015. We’re not bothered about awards. We do this because we love it. But it’s nice once in a while.
- We try our best everyday to make a difference
Our Programmes
These are a few of our recent programmes. Every year we run hundreds of sessions across Sunderland and the wider North East, for people of every age, interest and need.
Community Work
We work hard in the community, in partnership with Sunderland City Council, and we’ve done almost everything from litter picks to Christmas parties for older people.
Beach Camp
Beach camps have been a huge success: rockpooling, arts and crafts, shelter building and sport, all on our own North East coastline.
School Work
We provide PE in schools and cover every sport. We’ve built a reputation for quality and reliability, and some schools have worked with us for well over eight years.
Extra School Activities
Our day starts early with breakfast clubs, and often ends with after school activities including football, dodgeball and multi skills.
Football Teams
From small beginnings we’ve grown to sixteen football teams of all ages. It takes a huge amount of time and effort to organise, and it’s all worth it when you see the kids’ faces.
Volunteering Opportunities
Well over a hundred volunteers have come through North East Sport over the years, and more than forty are with us right now. Thank you to every one of them.