They run a football team that plays in the BOBI (Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire) League, which is open to players left vulnerable to reasons including homelessness and broken families, as well as relationship and drug related issues.
The Reading squad is proving particularly successful and that made them winners with the Get Berkshire Active judging panel.
Tony Henry and Harun Kumani picked up the award at the annual dinner held at the Blue Mountain Golf Club and Conference Centre last Friday.
“We are very pleased to have won. It is a team effort and this is a nice reward for all those involved,” said Tony.
Players train at Prospect Park on a Thursday, when they are often joined by coaches from Reading FC.
Of the 14 league matches played so far, YMCA have won nine games, drawn four and lost just once.
This leaves them top of the table, eight points clear of Newbury Saints in second place and puts them in with a good chance of winning the title.
Reading FC Community Trust sponsored the category won by YMCA and manager Dave Evans said: “We understand the importance of recognising the great work that the youth engagement programmes offer in supporting our young people.”
The group of cheerleaders who have performed at Reading FC matches as well Reading Rockets games, were also recognised at the BIPA awards.
Reading Superstars, their coach Rachel Berenson-Perkins and 15-year-old team member Caitlin Crossan, who also coaches, were short listed in three different categories.
Gary Johnson, chairman of Reading Rockets, was nominated for the lifetime achievement award won by Bracknell Rugby Club president Jonathan Dance.
Dance had a good reason for missing the awards, as in his role as president of the RFU he was in Cardiff, cheering England to victory against Wales.
The awards organisers, Get Berkshire Active, have also pledged to help youngsters as part of their ‘Inspire to Achieve’ bursary scheme, which is sponsored by Technogym through staff members running the Bracknell half marathon and playing in Get Berkshire Active’s corporate football tournament,
The first two recipients this year are Reading’s Andrea Romano from Whitley and James Langley from Bracknell.
Andrea, a pupil at Brookfields School, took up rock climbing despite suffering from physical, emotional, behavioural and learning difficulties. She has already achieved NICAS Level 1 and Level 2 grades and is now going for Level 3.
James, a gymnast, is an apprentice coach at Bracknell Gymnastics Club, where he is working hard to engage teenagers as a means of combating anti-social behaviour in the Bracknell Forest area.
The guest speaker on the night was Olympic rowing champion Katherine Copeland, while the master of ceremonies was BBC Radio Berkshire’s Tim Dellor.
A raffle held during the evening raised more than £840 for Get Berkshire Active.
Roll of Honour:
Youth Engagement Project (award sponsored by Reading FC Community Trust)
Winners:Reading YMCA - Bobi Football League.
Short-listed: Upton Lea Unity - Reach for the sky; Smash Up Badminton.
Club/team of the year: (Decathlon)
Winners:Pinewood Gymnastics Club.
Short-listed: Reading Superstars, Windsor Netball Club, Thames Valley Vikings Wheelchair Basketball Club; Park House School’s girls bobsleigh team; Dance and Cheer 49 (Bracknell).
Coach of the Year (Developing Potential)
Winner:Chris Donovan (Slough Amateur Boxing Club).
Short-listed: Rachel Berenson-Perkins (Reading Superstars); Andrea Ford (B’s Netball Club).
Volunteer of the Year (J A Wealth Management)
Winner:Valerie Childs (Sport in Mind).
Short-listed: Brenda Pope (Windsor netball), Sharon Bridge (SportsAble).
Health Project of the Year (We are MacMillan, cancer support)
Winners: Sandhurst Health Walks.
Short-listed: Eat4Health; Fit for Life Project.
Workplace of the Year (People Essentials) Winners: Promote PR.
Short-listed: Technogym; Park House School (Newbury).
Lifetime Achievement (Health Diagnostics) Winner:Jonathan Dance (Berkshire and Bracknell rugby).
Short-listed: John Greeves (SportsAble archery); Gary Johnson (Reading Rockets Basketball Club).
Junior Sports Personality of the Year (The Berkshire Schools Leadership Forum)
Winner:Annabel Chaffey (Park House School, bobsleigh driver).
Short-listed: Caitlin Crossan (Reading Superstars), Max Flynn (Dowlands Badminton Club).
Sports Personality of the Year (Technogym): Winner:Lucie Colebeck (Pinewood Gymnastics Club).
Short-listed: Megan Fletcher (Pinewood Judo Club); Penny Froude (SportsAble and England baccia).
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