A mixed netball event brought together players from 5 WAYS, Forward Leeds and North Yorkshire Horizons in a collaborative session focused on wellbeing, teamwork and recovery.
The session was facilitated through England Netball and Yorkshire Netball, who provided coaching support and helped structure games so that participants of all abilities could take part.
Players were people who had been supported by the services for issues with alcohol and/or drugs along with staff and volunteers from the two services.
5 WAYS Recovery Coach Craig Wilkinson, who had the idea for the event said, “It was fantastic to see everyone getting involved and supporting each other on court. Bringing people from different services together through sport creates a really positive atmosphere, and events like this show how physical activity can play a valuable role in recovery.”
Participants took part in warm‑ups, skills drills and a series of friendly short matches, with an emphasis on enjoyment and confidence‑building rather than competition.
England Netball Yorkshire Development Community Coach Carlee Sissons, who was part of the team organising the games on the day, said: “We’re here today because we’re working with Forward Leeds and 5 WAYS. We challenged them to see what sports they were doing and how they were engaging women in sports. We started a little ‘Back to Netball’ session and it’s grown from there to all these wonderful people taking part in the netball.
“It’s really important because everyone can get involved, we’re unashamedly proud to be a female-focused sport. So lots of women might play netball at school, getting involved and just really enjoying getting back in the game.
North Yorkshire Horizons Service Manager Stephen Flood said: “Recovery is all about connecting and bringing people together and sport’s a great way to do that. We’re getting exercise, we’re meeting other people in recovery and we’re seeing what is possible. And for a lot of us, we’re trying something new and that’s part of growth in life”.
Jo Sparks who was supported by North Yorkshire Horizons and played on the day said: “It’s been really good and challenging and it’s also brought us all out of our comfort zone. When the netball match started, I felt like I was back at school. I had all the butterflies, but it’s been lovely to have a new challenge and meet new people. Today has been excellent”.
The session was one of a series of sport-based activities that 5 WAYS is organising designed to help people build healthier routines and maintain long‑term recovery through inclusive, community‑focused events.
The event took place at the University of Leeds Gryphon Sports Centre of 3 Feburary. It was funded through the Leeds Recovery Capital funding.
