County Sports Partnership Update

Executive Board Meeting

At the recent Board meeting members considered the following reports:

Agreeing the new Constitution
Endorsing the Extending Activities Year 1 Delivery Plan
Agreeing the process for supporting and allocating workforce development plan funding to support National Governing Bodies of Sport Coach Development Plans across Staffordshire
Receiving reports on finance and performance for quarter 1
Discussing how the Partnership will 'move forward' following the launch of Sport England's new Strategy for Sport 2008-2011 and agreeing a consultation process with core sub regional Partners.

To read the reports - click here.

For more information contact:

Mark Thornewill, Director
Tel: 01785 619896
Email: mthornewill@staffordbc.gov.uk

Special Schools Sports Festival

Athletes from the county's special schools were the stars of the day as Shobnall Leisure Centre hosted Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent's Special Schools Sports Festival on Wednesday the 2nd of July. Over 200 pupils from 12 of the County's Special Schools enjoyed a day to remember.

To read more click here.

Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Youth Games

Over 550 young athletes from across the county competed in Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent’s Youth Games at Stoke-on-Trent’s Fenton Manor Sports Complex and Newcastle-under-Lyme’s Roe Lane Playing Fields on the 5th July.

To read more click here.

ACCESS Across Staffordshire Grants

The partnership received 8 applications following the recent release of a third round of ACCESS Across Staffordshire funding. The Equality & Diversity group have met to review the applications which are now being assessed by the Executive Board Finance and Investment Champions.

It is hoped that all successful projects will be made aware by the end of July. It is hoped that a forth round of funding will be made available with money available to support four projects.

Those projects that have been previously awarded will shortly be evaluated and project information and success stories will be posted on the Sport Across Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent website.

For more information contact:

Naomi Bird
Tel: 01785 619585
Email: nbird@staffordbc.gov.uk

Workshops

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 aim of this survey is for SASSOT to collate feedback relating to the Workshop Programme and identify which subject areas to include for the 2008 - 2009 Programme.

The feedback and comments from this survey will enable us to identify the key areas of workshops which will help to support and develop Coaches and Volunteers.

Later in August 2008, we have 2 different workshops on offer, held on the same day. They are Long Term Athlete Development and Coaching Children & Young People. Please check out our workshop programme for further details - places are still available.

If you are in urgent need of updating your skills for First Aid, places are available on the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) First Aid workshop at Belgrave Sports Centre, Tamworth.

Please note that some sports have more stringent First Aid requirements for Clubmark and coaching purposes. Delegates are advised to check with their NGB before enrolling on this course in order to be sure.

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.

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

Sporting Champions - have you read this news item?

Sporting Champions inspires young people by giving them the chance to meet their sporting heroes face-to-face and gives us the opportunity to bring world-class athletes into our local community.

All visits must support at least one of the key themes:

Increase participation in community sport
School and club links
Leadership and volunteering

Some visits may also be used for work with gifted and talented young people to support Sport England and the Government’s messaging around excellence.

Working with schools

Any school planning a community sport and not curriculum PE event can also apply for a Sporting Champions visit, through the County Sports Partnership, providing the key message is school and club links with a view to increasing participation outside of school.

Sporting Champions have around 20 visits up for grabs until 30 September 2008. So, if you have an event you wish to nominate to make the most of this great free scheme then please complete the application form and return to Leigh Morton ASAP.

Due to Sport England's strategic review, Sporting Champions are currently only able to confirm visits until 30 September 2008. They should shortly be receiving information from Sport England with regards to visits after this date and will disseminate that to you as soon as it's received.

In the meantime, if you do have events post September, you are still able to nominate them in the usual way by completing the application form. Sporting Champions will keep them on file to review once they have a steer from Sport England.

To read their latest newsletter click here.

For more information on Sport Champions:

Visit www.sportingchampions.org.uk

For more information contact:
Leigh Morton
Tel: 01785 619349
Email: lmorton@staffordbc.gov.uk

New Video Feature

Check out this new facility on our website and watch the video clip of Cannock Chase District Council's 'Chase It' project that was submitted by the CSP to represent the SASSOT sub-region at the BBC Midlands Sports Awards.

Video Clip

If you would like to promote your sport, club, or project, using this excellent promotional tool, simply send your short video clip as a avi file together with a brief description and contact details to:

Leigh Morton
Tel: 01785 619349
Email: lmorton@staffordbc.gov.uk

Staff Changes

Wendy Anderson

Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are sorry to be saying goodbye to our Active Recreation Manager, Wendy Anderson who will be joining the North Staffordshire Primary Care Trust as Principal Health Improvement Manager in July.

Wendy has been with the Partnership since October 2006 and during that time has done some tremendous work on developing the Community Sport Networks, links with Primary Care Trusts and other Partners involved in the Sport and Active Recreation agenda.

Wendy was also instrumental in ensuring the Partnership's Community Investment Fund portfolio was successfully submitted resulting in many initiative projects receiving funding.

Wendy's experience and enthusiasm will be missed by the SASSOT team but we are delighted that her talents will be retained within Staffordshire and that she will continue to work closely with us.

Emma Warren

We are delighted to welcome Emma Warren, Netball Development Officer for Staffordshire and the Black Country. To read more about Emma's background and what she aims to do in her new role click here.

Jobs and Careers

Don't forget forget to visit the jobs and careers page on our website as there is always something on offer that is not to be missed.

If you have a vacancy, be it a paid or a voluntary position, and want to advertise it for free, email it to Leigh Morton on lmorton@staffordbc.gov.uk

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