Stockport sports coach Sasha wins national award

A Stockport sports coach has won a national award for her outstanding work with local young people.

Sasha Moore was named the Children and Young People Coach of the Year at the prestigious UK Coaching Awards in London last week.

She works for Life Leisure in Stockport and runs the centre’s ParkLives and R Time projects delivering fun and engaging activity sessions for kids.

Almost a hundred youngsters regularly attend the free sessions organised by Sasha and her fellow coaches. They’re able to choose from a range of different activities – anything from football to gymnastics – and are then given coaching together with any equipment needed.

Since it was set up in 2017 with funding from national charity StreetGames, the police have claimed that the number of instances of anti-social behaviour involving young people in the community and in neighbouring areas has halved.

Sasha, who has been running sessions in Adswood and Bridgehall for two years, was also named Coach of the Year at the StreetGames National Awards in August, and Sentinel of the Year at Life Leisure’s employee awards last month.

Sasha, who is a keen gymnast and competed alongside Team GB in the European School Games, said: “This year has been fantastic for me – I feel very honoured.

“I love doing my job and the response from the kids and their families makes it all worthwhile, but it’s definitely nice to be recognised on a national level too!”

Sasha, who is a former pupil of Bridgehall Primary School and has lived in the area all her life.

“This is a hugely prestigious award,” said Life Leisure CEO Malcolm McPhail. “We are absolutely thrilled Sasha’s efforts have been recognised.

“To win three awards in short succession just shows how valued Sasha’s work is, by us and by all the communities and partners she works with. Sasha isn’t just providing things for kids to do – she’s supporting them emotionally, she’s giving them confidence and she’s showing them what they can achieve.

“In addition, her work with partners like the police and fire service builds invaluable bridges between young people and authorities, that wouldn’t be there otherwise.”

Life Leisure manages 13 sports and leisure facilities in and around Stockport and delivers sessions in Brinnington, Cheadle Heath, Lancashire Hill and Offerton.