News

'Chase It' to the BBC Midlands Sports Awards

Cannock Chase District Council's 'Chase It' programme went forward as the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent CSP representative for the BBC Midlands Power of Sport Award earlier this month.

The project, which was one of six nominated by SASSOT's Community Sports Networks, was chosen to attend the glitzy BBC Midlands Sports Awards ceremony held at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham on Sunday 2^nd December.

Steve Town, Regional Director, Sport England commented: "Through this new award, sponsored by Sport England in the West Midlands, recognition is being given to the community benefits achieved by 6 nominated sports projects. I congratulate all partners who work to deliver this outstanding community sports project, identified by Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent as an excellent example of how sport can make a difference to local communities. Removing the barriers to access sport is critical and this project demonstrates how it can be achieved.

'Chase It', which was first introduced by Cannock Chase District Council's Sports Development Team in July 2003, is a young person's activity programme aimed at tackling a range of social issues through the medium of sport and active recreation.

The project benefits from funds awarded by a number of local partners including the Community and Learning Partnership, the Children's Fund, the local authority, the Lottery and also recently received an award from SASSOT's own Access ACROSS Staffordshire fund.

Over recent years, 'Chase It' has worked closely with South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust to help deliver a healthy lifestyle message to all children who take part in the wide range of activities including trampolining, biking and sports coaching sessions, particularly targeted at young people with a range of access issues.

Chase It

Pictured above: Jason Britton presents Cllr Mick Grocott with the certificate in the presence of members of Cannock Chase District Council's Sports Development Team who deliver the 'Chase It' programme.

SASSOT's Business Development Manager Jason Britton, seen above presenting a certificate recognising Chase It's nomination for the Power of Sport Award to Councillor Mick Grocott, Portfolio Holder for Leisure at Cannock Chase District Council said, "We received six excellent nominations from our sub-region to represent Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent for the award, but our judging panel scored Chase It very highly on the key areas of partnership working and community engagement and we congratulate the team for all their hard work in making the project such a success."

The Chase It team also received an extra boost this week with the announcement that they had been awarded almost £200,000 from the Children's Fund to continue to deliver their outstanding work.

For more information contact:
Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent
Tel: 01785 619349