Newark Amateur Boxing Club

Newcastle Knights

For children in Newquay, Cornwall, who want to play football, Newquay AFC Youth offers a volunteer-run club catering for ages 3 to 18. Young players can start out at the Saturday morning mini club, then move on through a development centre, dedicated goalkeeper training and squad practice with the club's teams. The club also runs Wildcats sessions, and its focus is on safe, enjoyable football where children can keep improving.

Youth football clubs in general are a good way for children to stay active, make friends and build confidence as part of a team. Players usually pick up communication skills and a sense of belonging alongside their footballing ability, whatever level they start at.

Ages 3 to 18

Saturday mini club

Development centre

Goalkeeper training

Wildcats sessions

Run by volunteers

Volunteer-run youth football club in Newquay, Cornwall, for ages 3 to 18, with a mini club, development centre and goalkeeper training.

Newquay AFC Youth

Newquay Boxing Academy

Based in Newry city centre, this martial arts club specialises in ITF Tae Kwon-Do and describes itself as a full-time community centre for the discipline. Alongside its core classes, the club offers self defence sessions and a programme for younger students known as the Little Ninjas.

A Tae Kwon-Do club like this is a good place to build fitness, coordination and confidence while learning striking and self defence techniques. Newcomers can book a first-time session to see how things work before committing.

ITF Tae Kwon-Do

Kids programme

Self defence classes

First session booking

City centre location

Community club

Newry Tae Kwon Do is an ITF martial arts club in Newry city centre offering classes, self defence and a kids programme.

Newry Tae Kwon Do

Newton Abbot HKB Martial Arts

NFKA Bedlington

Nicola Rodmell school of performing arts

Night Flyers Trampoline club

Tucked in Swansea, this martial arts club focuses on Ninjutsu, teaching self defence alongside the discipline and confidence that come with regular training. Sessions are open to those looking to learn a traditional martial art in a structured setting.

Ninjutsu blends striking, grappling and self defence techniques, so a typical class covers both practical skills and the mindset behind them. It suits people who want to build coordination and awareness while working towards a longer term goal.

Ninjutsu training

Self defence focus

Based in Swansea

Ninjutsu Academy Swansea is a martial arts club in Swansea teaching Ninjutsu, self defence and confidence.

Ninjutsu Academy Swansea

Nin-te Ryu Martial Arts

Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, Nishio-Aikido Club is a martial arts school teaching aikido to children and adults. Both group and one-to-one classes are offered, and the club welcomes complete beginners as well as more experienced students. Training starts with solid fundamentals, including correct hand and foot movement, joint locks and how to fall safely, with each session building on the last.

Aikido is generally known as a non-competitive martial art focused on blending with an opponent's movement rather than meeting force with force. Classes typically combine technique practice with partner work, which can help with coordination, balance, flexibility and confidence, as well as offering a calm, focused way to stay active.

Beginner friendly

Children and adults

Group and private classes

Focus on fundamentals

Bookable first lesson

Aikido martial arts club in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, offering group and individual classes for children and adults of all abilities.

Nishio-Aikido Club

Freestyle karate in Cramlington, Northumberland, is on offer at Northern Free-Style Karate, part of the Northern Freestyle Karate Association. The association was established in 1990 and runs clubs across North Tyneside, Northumberland and the Tyne Valley. It welcomes people of all ages and has a strong family focus, with experienced instructors helping students build fitness, discipline and confidence.

A martial arts club like this is generally a good place to learn self defence, improve coordination and get fit alongside others. Karate training typically covers forms and sparring, and many people find the structured progression and friendly group setting keep them motivated over the long term.

Established in 1990

Family friendly

Experienced instructors

Sparring and forms

Self defence skills

Clubs across the region

Freestyle karate club in Cramlington, Northumberland, part of an association founded in 1990, welcoming families and all ages.

Northern Free-Style Karate

Korfball in Gateshead is the focus at Northern Storm, a club formed in the North East of England in July 2013. Training takes place weekly at Kingsmeadow School in Dunston, and newcomers can try the first two sessions free. The club welcomes players of all ages, including those who have never come across the sport, and members often head out for a relaxed drink and a chat after training.

Korfball is a mixed gender ball game, often described as sitting somewhere between netball and basketball. Teams of eight, with four women and four men, aim to throw the ball through a raised basket known as a korf. It generally suits anyone looking for a sociable team sport that values passing and teamwork.

First two sessions free

Beginners welcome

Open to all ages

Weekly training

Kingsmeadow School venue

Founded in 2013

Northern Storm is a friendly korfball club in Gateshead, welcoming all ages and complete beginners, with two free sessions to start.

Northern Storm Korfball Club

Shotokan karate is the focus at the North Lanarkshire Institute of Karate, a martial arts school serving the Glasgow and North Lanarkshire area. Established in 2021, the club trains at the Iain Nicolson Centre in Chryston and at the Broadwood dojo in Cumbernauld, with classes open to ages 5 and up. Both traditional and sport karate are practised, and the school works to develop students of all ages, guided by principles such as respect, self-discipline, focus and confidence.

Karate classes generally combine basics, forms (kata) and partner work, building fitness, coordination and composure over time. A structured grading system usually gives students clear goals as they progress, making it a rewarding option for children and adults alike.

Shotokan karate

Ages 5 and up

Two training venues

Founded in 2021

Graded chief instructor

Try a class

Shotokan karate school near Glasgow with classes in Chryston and Cumbernauld, teaching traditional and sport karate for ages 5 and over.

North Lanarkshire Institute of Karate

Northowram Judo Club

Basketball in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, is the focus of this sports club, which links through its website to the Eagles Community Foundation, the community arm of the Newcastle Eagles. The foundation works to grow basketball participation across Tyneside, Wearside and South East Northumberland, with programmes ranging from junior age groups to walking basketball and active ageing sessions.

Basketball is a fast, sociable team sport that suits a wide range of ages and abilities. Joining a local club is generally a good way to build fitness, coordination and confidence, and many clubs offer a pathway from beginner sessions through to competitive league play for those who want it.

Junior age groups

Girls and women's teams

Walking basketball

Camps and courses

Eagles community links

College academy pathway

Basketball club in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, linked to the Eagles Community Foundation with junior, adult and walking basketball programmes.

North Shields Basketball Club

North West Dance Studios

Norwich Karate Academy at Roxley Hall

Based in Nottingham, NOVA Centurion is a swimming club serving swimmers across the city and surrounding area. It offers a place for people to train and develop in the pool as part of a local swimming community.

Swimming clubs like this generally cater to a range of abilities, from those building confidence in the water to swimmers looking to improve technique and take part in competitive galas. Sessions are usually structured around coached training, giving members a routine to work towards and progress at their own pace.

NOVA Centurion is a swimming club in Nottingham offering coached training for swimmers across the city.

NOVA Centurion

Novas martial arts academy

NV Dance Academy is a dance school based in Bradford, West Yorkshire. If you are looking for somewhere local to dance, it is one of the options listed in the area, and the best way to find out what it offers is to get in touch with the academy directly.

Dance classes in general are a sociable way to stay active, build coordination and confidence, and learn something creative. Many dance schools welcome people of different ages and experience levels, so it is worth asking about styles taught, class levels and whether newcomers can try a session before committing.

NV Dance Academy is a dance school in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Get in touch to find out about classes and styles on offer.

Clubs