County Sports Partnership Update

County funding approaches £1million mark

Funding from National Lottery through Sport England's Community Investment Fund is fast approaching £1million in Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent with four more projects receiving over £175,000.

Sport Across Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent who have co-ordinated a total of 23 applications to Sport England's Community Investment Fund are delighted with the recent announcement with 12 now having received funding awards. 

'Youth Offending – Reducing the Barriers'. Staffordshire Youth Offending Service has been awarded £74,920. This project will focus on increasing sport and physical activity opportunities for 14-19yr olds who are at risk of or are subject to a criminal order. The project will run for 2yrs and focus on reducing crime and anti social behaviour rates amongst this target group through providing positive volunteering and participation pathways into sport and active recreation.

Lichfield District Council 'Burntwood Youth Project' has been awarded £25,210. This project will be delivered in and around Burntwood Leisure Centre providing regular opportunities in sport and recreational activities, volunteering, sport leadership and coaching courses to young people aged 14-19yrs. These activities will be delivered across the weekend in partnership with the Staffordshire County Council and the Beacon Church project. 

Age Concern North Staffordshire have been awarded £60,000 to fund ‘Ageing Well Sport and Active Recreation Project’. This money will be used to fund a Physical Activity coordinator to deliver sport and active recreation sessions to people over 50 across Stoke on Trent. The new role will also focus on training and supporting volunteers to deliver active recreation sessions to increase participation by the over 50-age group.

Age Concern Stafford District has been awarded £15,863 to fund ‘Staying Active Stafford’. This money will be used to fund a Staying Active Co-ordinator to train and co-ordinate volunteers to promote sport amongst people aged 50 and over within the Stafford District area.

Rauf Mirza, Chair, Regional Sports Board said: “The awards, made to priority projects identified in each area, will make a real impact on sport and physical activity in Staffordshire. Developing the projects through to award status demonstrates the effective partnership work achieved through Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. The impact each project will make on the lives of individuals will be tremendous; all partners involved should be congratulated and I look forward to receiving news of their work.”

Mark Thornewill Director of Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent County Sports Partnerships said  “Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent was delighted to support these projects through the Community Investment Fund application process.

Staffordshire Youth Offending Service, Age Concern Stafford District, Age Concern North Staffordshire and Lichfield District Council are all working tremendously hard with partners within their areas and their respective Community Sports Network to provide increased opportunities for local people to participate in sport and active recreation more often. The CIF portfolio to date has brought in a tremendous amount of local partner match funding within the area equating to £3,448,280.  These projects will contribute significantly to helping us achieve increasingly active, healthy and successful communities across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent."

For more information contact:

Mark Thornewill
Partnership Director
T: 01785 619896
E: mthornewill@staffordbc.gov.uk

Project contacts

Staffordshire Youth Offending Service ‘Youth Offending – Reducing the Barriers’ Dave Sandford Sports Development Officer, Youth Offending Service on 01785 358314 or e-mail dave.sandford@staffordshire.gov.uk

Lichfield District Council ‘Burntwood Youth Project’  - Paul Watson General Manager, Lichfield District Council 01543 308824 or e-mail paul.watson@lichfielddc.gov.uk

Age Concern North Staffordshire ‘Ageing Well Sport and Active Recreation Project’ – Tracey Humphries Manager, Age Concern North Staffordshire on 01782 200729 or e-mail tracey.humphries@acns.org.uk

Age Concern Stafford District ‘Staying Active Stafford’ – Elaine Walker Staying Active Co-ordinator on 01785 607060 or e-mail Elaine@ageconcernstafford.org.uk

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SASSOT Club Support Plan – first draft out to Partner consultation

he draft Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Club Support Plan has gone out to consultation (please see below).

 

The Club Support Plan focuses on the opportunities for supporting and developing the sports club infrastructure throughout Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent which is deemed by government as pivotal in the role SASSOT can play in contributing to driving the 1% increase in sport and active recreation needed year on year.

Initial consultation has already been undertaken with key partners to identify the major issues and priorities for Club Support throughout Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent and these views have been implemented into the first draft of SASSOT's Club Support Plan.

SASSOT now want to give wider partners the opportunity to comment on the draft plan, specifically the first year Club Action Plan - November 2008 to November 2009 (pages 17 to 20).

The following web-link will take you to a short online survey where we would really appreciate your views on the actions identified and if these will contribute to your organisations aims and objectives and add value to the work your currently doing so that we can shape up the finalised plan.

Please click here to take part in the survey.

The deadline for completing the online survey is Friday 26th September.

Your feedback and comments will help us to shape the finalised version of the Club Action Plan that will help develop a vibrant quality sports club environment throughout the sub-region.

Click here to view the draft Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Club Support Plan.

If you have any queries or comments about the Club Development Support Plan or the online survey then please feel free to contact:

Chris Turner
Club & PESSCL Development Officer 
T: 01785 619681
E: cturner@staffordbc.gov.uk

  

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CSP thanks Qualitel Business Telecoms Specialists

The CSP presented a framed t-shirt and photo' montage from this year's Special Schools Sports Festival to Mike Ridgway, Managing Director of Qualitel Business Telecoms Specialists.

 

Picture: Mike Ridgway, Qualitel (left)
with Mark Thornewill, SASSOT (right)

The memento was presented in grateful recognition of Qualitel's sponsorship of the festival, which saw over 200 pupils from County's Special Schools take part in a wide-range of sporting activities.

 

Mark Thornewill said: "Sponsorship from Qualitel was fantasic and enabled the event to be bigger and more successful than ever before. SASSOT really appreciated the support Qualitel and their Managing Director, Mike Ridgway, gave to the young people with disabilities to access this sporting event."

 

For more information contact:

Naomi Bird
T: 01785 619585
E: nbird@staffordbc.gov.uk

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Workshops

Discussion and planning is currently taking place with regards to the planning of the Workshop Programme, and what to include for the remainder of the year up to the end of June 2009.  So keep an eye on www.sportacrossstaffordshire.co.uk/workshops for more details. 

SASSOT will shortly be sending a Workshop Programme survey for completion by key individuals i.e. National Governing Bodies, Sport Development Officers and Partnership Development Managers.

The main focus at present is to ensure that volunteers and coaches are aware of the forthcoming Coaches Conference 2008.  I am currently processing applications from individuals hoping to take part in some of the workshops on the day.  If you have any other enquiries regarding the workshops, please contact me on the number below.  

We will continue to deliver regular workshops such as Safeguarding & Protecting Children, Equity in your Coaching and A Club for All and First Aid.  Other workshops will be included based on the demand for what is required.  

Please be advised that in cases of cancellations, a 5 working day notice period is required.  Delegates can opt to change to another workshop or alternatively send another representative.

If you find that you cannot attend the workshops we have planned, contact Kam and she may be able to help you find alternatives. 

For more information on the full list of workshops available please click here

 

Kam Webster
Education and Training Officer
Tel: 01785 619695
Email: sassotadmin@staffordbc.gov.uk

 

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Staff changes

Kam Webster

We are delighted to welcome Kam Webster, to the SASSOT team, as Education and Training Officer. You may of course already have met Kam as she has been carrying out the role in a temporary capacity since February 08 but has now joined us as a permanent member of the team. Kam is already pressing ahead with her duties by putting together a new workshop programme and taking bookings for the Coaches Conference on 12 October. Please contact her for all your education and training needs.

Kam's contact details are:

Kam Webster
Education & Training Officer
T: 01785 619695
E: kwebster@staffordbc.gov.uk

Kate Halsey

SASSOT also look forward to welcoming Kate Halsey on 4 September to cover the Active Reacreation Manager position on a part-time secondment basis. Kate's current position is Senior Health & Physical Activity Offer in the Sport and Leisure Development Services department at Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council. Kate's role will be to further development the CSN/CSPAN forums and continue the work of the Partnership on the physical activity agenda.