To inspire young people and impact communities through Sport by creating opportunities for all people to reach their full God given potential.
To coach, educate, empower and provide positive role models to young people through programmes, recreational activities and events; and in doing so to positively influence New Zealand sports culture.
To support the wellbeing of these young people by partnering with their school, their families, the wider community and other organisations.
"Sport has the power to change the world, the power to inspire, the power to unite people in a way that little else can. It speaks to people in a language they understand."
Nelson Mandela
Ignite Sport Trust is a youth development organisation that encourages, supports and inspires young people to make wise choices and to reach their potential. Although we are not a sports organisation, we use the opportunities that recreation provides to connect and engage with young people and positively impact communities.
Ignite Sport’s unique delivery style and message encourages young people to consider their character, values, balance and heart. Ignite Sport engages and mentors 1800+ young people annually in youth and leadership development programmes reinforcing important life skills, building resilience and positive decision making.
We believe early intervention and teaching of important life-skills will help build resilience, develop well-being and help young people make positive decisions for their future. Our programmes assist young people to realise their full potential in education, sport and life generally with mentoring, practical learning experiences used alongside learning workshops to help engage, motivate and inspire. Programmes encourage development of character, life-skills, personal values and leadership in school, sport and community. Much of our work is in low-decile schools where students are predominantly Pacifica, Maori or Refugee background. The programmes are graduated from Year 7/8 (life-skills and transition to college) to Year 13 (senior leadership, mentoring and service to school and community). Programmes incorporate a wide range of workshops, recreation opportunities, learning experiences and activities.
Specialised programmes include:
Oho Ake programme engages with young people disengaging from education.
Fusion programme works with former Refugee young in Palmerston North, Hamilton and Wellington.
We partner /collaborate with a range of other organisations and service providers.
The Ignite Sports Academy was established in 2001 as a project of YFC Wellington, to provide opportunities for sports-mad young people to reach their potential. Over 300 senior High School young people attended these academy camps held in Wellington and Christchurch. Participants learnt important sporting skills and interacted and journeyed with many successful athletes and coaches.
In 2007 Ignite Sport was set up as its own Charitable Trust to facilitate a range of sports-based initiatives and projects with the aim of further supporting and serving athletes, schools, sports clubs and communities across the region. In 2007 there were 2 permanent staff and a handful of volunteers running workshops.