County Sports Partnership Update

Sport England Publish Active People Survey 3 Quarterly Update

This month Sport England has published a quarterly update on sports participation in England. The Active People survey of 190,000 people is the biggest of its kind and is used to measure progress against our targets.

The results show sport participation levels in the 12-month rolling period from April 2008 – April 2009.

The National results showed the following trends:

6,822,000 people (16 and over) are now playing sport 3 times a week at moderate intensity
Regular sports participation has held firm since the last report in December 2008
Some individual sports have seen a decrease in participation
Participation by 18 year olds has remained the same
Satisfaction with local sports provision has increased

National Indicator 8 (NI8)

NI8 is the national indicator for adult sport and active recreation and will be measured by Sport England’s Active People Survey. NI8 is the percentage of the adult population (age 16 years and over) in a local area who participate in sport and active recreation, at moderate intensity, for at least 30 minutes on at least 12 days out of the last 4 weeks (equivalent to 30 minutes on 3 or more days a week).

Sport and active recreation includes the sports and recreational activities as measured in the Active People Survey (including for example recreational walking and recreational cycling).

Although not considered to be statistically significant the interim Active People Survey performance data for NI8 show a positive direction of travel for SASSOT CSP.

20.6% (APS1) to 21.2% (APS3 Rolling 12 month Apr 08- Apr 09).

The results of all the Local Authorities are detailed below:

Active People Survey 3

Sport England’s: One Million Target

At the heart of Sport England's new strategy is a commitment to getting one million people taking part in more sport by 2012-13. Sport England’s progress towards this target is measured by the Active People Survey.

Aligned to Sport England’s new strategic focus, the one million target is based on a sports participation indicator that includes a narrower range of activities than other sport and active recreation indicators reported by Active People such as NI8, the national indicator for local government.

The sports participation indicator measures the number of adults (aged 16 and over) participating in at least 30 minutes of sport at moderate intensity at least three times a week. It does not include recreational walking or infrequent recreational cycling but does include cycling if done at least once a week at moderate intensity and for at least 30 minutes. It also includes more intense/strenuous walking activities such as power walking, hill trekking, cliff walking and gorge walking.

When reviewing the ‘one million target’ (adult participation in 30 minutes, moderate intensity sport) SASSOT is 1 of only 3 CSPs, in the whole of England (49 CSPs) that has witnessed a statistically significant increase in participation (15.2% – 16.3%)

Some of our local authorities have also witnessed statistically significant increases in sports participation. Lichfield, Tamworth and Stafford have all witnessed increases against the ‘one million sports participation target’

Sport England's One Million Target

KEY: Green Shaded Box = Statistically Significant Increases

Please click here for the full research results.

For more information on the results please contact:

Naomi Bird
Knowledge, Communications & Equalities Manager
Tel: 01785 619585
Email: nbird@staffordbc.gov.uk

Black Minority Ethnic (BME) Communities Sports Research Project by Staffordshire University

“Barriers to Participation within Staffordshire’s BME Population”

A full literature review was conducted in March 2008 and there were several recommendations for further research. One of the identified gaps in local research was the barriers to participation within Staffordshire’s BME population. It was established that although there are barriers such as culture, stereotypes, access, opportunities and gender. Limited research has been conducted to assess the extent of these barriers and how they can be overcome. Initiatives are in place to encourage more ethnic participation, but the overall effect of these on the black, minority and ethnic community is under researched.

Following these recommendations SASSOT commissioned Staffordshire University to conduct an in depth research project by Dr Jamie Cleland, a Senior Lecturer in Sports Sociology at the University. The aim of the project was to investigate low participation and volunteering in black, minority and ethnic groups and to provide recommendations for improvement. Case studies within Staffordshire were identified as well as key community hubs. Interviews were held with community members and a series of recommendations to improve BME sport engagement have been established.

Improved utilisation of local facilities within communities
Enhanced communication and engagement
Encouragement of family based activities
Integration of activities within existing groups and networks
Increased numbers of ethnic instructors

For the full research report please click here

For more information on the project and the findings please contact::

Naomi Bird
Knowledge, Communications & Equalities Manager
Tel: 01785 619585
Email: nbird@staffordbc.gov.uk

Marketing & Communications Plan 2009-2010

The year 2008-09 saw a number of successful outcomes delivered against the Marketing & Communications Plan.

New look website has received over 435,000 hits last year which was over double the amount of the previous year
Monthly Sport E-newsletter circulated with recorded number of articles being submitted by partners.
Strong press coverage for CIF projects, Coaches Conference, Sport Unlimited, ACCESS Across Staffordshire, The Youth Games and Special Schools Sports Festival
Ongoing website developments including expansion of events calendar, video downloads facility installed, clubs database and Sport Unlimited discussion forum
Delivery of Marketing Workshop by GoodForm Marketing agency to both CSN and NGB representatives
New Coach & Volunteer promotional material produced and distributed to all key venues
New ‘QualityMark’ branding established for the generic clubmark programme

The Marketing & Communications Plan 2009-10 has been adopted by the Executive Board and is now available on our website, please click here.

For more information on the plan please contact:

Naomi Bird
Knowledge, Communications & Equalities Manager
Email: nbird@staffordbc.gov.uk
Tel: 01785 619585

New Member Joins SASSOT's Board

A new representative, Kevin Sanders, from the private sector has been appointed to join SASSOT's Board.

Kevin is currently working for a sports company in the private sector. The company provides coaching services and Healthy Lifestyle (MEND) programmes within schools and local communities around the Staffordshire area.

A Staffordshire University graduate in Sports Development and a coach who has experience and qualifications in a whole range of different sports. Kevin brings great knowledge of the private sector to the Board along with the experience of knowing what can improve the coaching system within Staffordshire. He has a positive and motivated attitude to sport.

You can meet Kevin at the Special Schools Sports Festival on 2 July at Shobnall Leisure Complex, Burton. His inaugural Board meeting will be on 15 July.

For more information on all of the Board members click here.

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

Staff changes...new Acting Workforce Development Manager joins the SASSOT Team

We are delighted to inform that Claire Greenwood, formerly a Development Manager at Sport England West Midlands, will be joining the SASSOT Team on 30 June as Acting Workforce Development Manager. More details about the work she will be involved with will be covered in the next issue of this newsletter.

Her contact details will be:

Claire Greenwood
Acting Workforce Development Manager
T: 01785 619317
E: cgreenwood@staffordbc.gov.uk

Workshops

As stated previously, changes are continually made as a result from the needs and requirements from clubs etc. You will note that there have been 2 new additions to the programme – they are Multiskills Inclusion (22 July) and a FREE Positive Management (23 July) session. Both have been arranged at the Shobnall Leisure Complex, Burton upon Trent.

To allow for the opportunity for all to access the workshops, various locations have been booked all around the Staffordshire County. We do hope that it continues to be an asset to your continuing professional development within the world of sport.

As always we do advise that as some sports have more stringent First Aid requirements for Clubmark and coaching purposes, all delegates should check with their NGB before enrolling on these workshops in order to avoid disappointment after the event.

Can I please ask that you check the website on a regular basis as updates are always being made to dates and venues.

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 click here or you can contact:

Kam Webster
Education and Training Officer
Tel: 01785 619 695
Email: kwebster@staffordbc.gov.uk

Click here to return to the newsletter