Surrey Youth Games will not go ahead in 2025

An event to encourage young people to play sport in Surrey will not run in 2025 after more than 25 years.

The Surrey Youth Games, held previously over one day or over a weekend for thousands of children from across the county, will not take place following a "review of the format of the event", organisers Active Surrey said.

Instead, six of Surrey's 11 district and borough councils will provide access to "fun, free and local activities" and a further two are running a bursary scheme which families can apply for.

An Active Surrey spokesperson said: "Surrey County Council and its partners remain committed to providing opportunities for young people to engage in sport and physical activity."

They said format and participation in 2025 had been determined at a borough and district level.

Councils in Elmbridge, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Guildford, Woking, and Reigate and Banstead will provide activities including cricket, dance, tennis, and boxing.

While Surrey Heath and Mole Valley will provide bursaries for access to sport.

A Mole Valley statement previously said: "Sadly, after 25 successful years the Surrey Youth Games, an annual multi-sport youth programme offering free sports training for 7-16 year olds, is not going ahead in 2025.

"This presents a need to provide alternative avenues to sport for individuals and families where finance is a barrier to participation."

Tandridge District Council, which did not participate in 2024's games, Epsom and Ewell and Waverley councils have been contacted to ask what provision they are planning to encourage young people to take part in sport.

Following 2024's games, Active Surrey chief executive Elizabeth Duggan said the organisation was "delighted" that almost 1,000 children and their families, from 244 schools across Surrey, were given the opportunity to take up a new activity through the games.

Active Surrey is a not for profit organisation, hosted by Surrey County Council. ​

A report two years ago said the Surrey Youth Games was the largest multi-sport youth programme in the South East and focused on "helping beginners to be active, particularly children living in Surrey's least advantaged communities".

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