Sport in the Hood - 'Power of Sport' nomination - BBC West Midlands

East Staffordshire Borough Councils ‘Sport in the Hood’ programme went forward as the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent CSP nomination for the BBC Midlands 'Power of Sport' Award earlier this month.

The project, which was put forward by the East Staffs Community Sports Network, was chosen to attend the glitzy BBC Midlands Sports Awards ceremony held at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham on Sunday 7th December.


Sport in the Hood is an all year-round holiday programme that has been providing free sport and physical activities, for 6-16 year olds, over the last 12 years. The programme has grown significantly in the past 2 years to include new venues across East Staffordshire and aims to provide communities with access to high quality sport and physical activity provision from qualified sports coaches and leaders.

 

 

Summer 2008 saw 1,095 young people attend Sport in the Hood sessions. Sport in the Hood works in partnership through the Community Sport Network, East Staffs United, with Community Centres, Youth Service, Parks and Countryside and local sports clubs. Partners are invited to provide alternative activities to traditional sports to help breakdown communication barriers with the other agencies participants coming into contact with Sport in the Hood children during their day-to-day usage of community facilities.

Pictured above: Certificate presentation by Mark Thornewill, SASSOT Director
to East Staffs CSN – East Staffs United

 

Sport in the Hood has also seen a number of former participants progress onto volunteering on the project and are now working as paid casual coaches after completing a number of coaching qualifications, with support of the Sports Development Team. These coaches have now become role models for the 6-16 year olds who attend Sport in the Hood.

Vicki Brearley, Head of Sport, Physical Health & Community Development quoted: “We were absolutely thrilled to be nominated for the award, the impact of the scheme has been wide-reaching and it has been excellent to see how sport has helped improve the quality of life of thousands of young people throughout East Staffordshire; it was an honour to be at the awards evening, and sit amongst such prestigious company.”

 

 

 

For more information contact:

   

Emma Gilbert
Sports Development Officer 
T: 01283 505915
M: 07966342222
E:  emma.gilbert@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk