How Sports Legacy Works

In order to achieve our aims we will be working in one of four tried and tested ways.

1. Events led
2. Youth organisation development
3. Sports clubs development
4. Traditional sports development

We will work with and alongside the current provision where there is one, helping to increase and widen the scope of that provision. At the same time we look to use sport to tackle problems inherent within coalfields communities. The approach selected will be determined by the level of local sports provision in the community.

 

Events Led

This model encourages regular activity by using the powder keg of a community sports day at a community venue.

Case Study:

CRT partnered up with the Forestry Commission to put on events at Thurnscoe’s ‘Phoenix Park’ (formally Hickleton Pit). The events were promoted to existing park users via a database of participants held by the Forestry Commission.

The summer events at Thurnscoe were described as: “fantastic events” and were reported as being “full to capacity” and “nothing but popular”.

For young Matthew Hardman it provided an introduction to a new sport. Matthew is 9 years old, and is one of the youngest of a family of 9 children. As a direct result of this community event he now trains weekly with Doncaster Athletics club.

The event also sparked interest from the Goldthorpe Salvation Army. With CRT assistance they were able to host weekly fitness sessions at their hall. Children who attended the event were also able to continue activity regularly here.

 

Youth Organisation Development

This approach identifies a local youth organisation, already engaged in the community and develops its capacity for sports delivery.

Case Study:

‘Next Generation’ is a young voluntary organisation working with children and young people in the Pinderfields and College Grove area of Wakefield. They are based at the Lightwaves Leisure Centre.

CRT has helped Next Generation by providing equipment, venue hire and resources to develop six volunteers. These volunteers have gone onto gain a ‘Children in Athletics’Certificate and to then deliver two athletics fitness sessions a week.

Next Generation have also successfully run a ‘Game On’ Midnight Football League.

Next Generation are now looking to work with CRT on outreach work extending this sports provision into community locations as well as recruiting more volunteers.

“Our aim is to support children and young people to believe in themselves, to achieve their dreams. Next Generation’s philosophy is to believe in children, to increase their life experiences and opportunities and to help them to reach their full potential”

 

Capacity Building Sports Clubs

This approach focuses on the recruitment of volunteers to bolster and build a club’s

capacity. It looks at the needs of the club and the needs of the community.

Case Study:

Barnsley Harriers were a running club with no junior section. Through CRT’s Sports Legacy programme six volunteers stepped forward to be trained to deliver fun athletics and fitness sessions to children in the community. In total, 6 people have completed CiA training, 5 are trained to Level 1 and a further 3 to Level 2.

The equipment, publicity and support were provided by CRT to start a junior section at the Shaw Lane sports facility in Barnsley.

CRT worked with local partners in Barnsley to assist the club and now Athletics sessions run regularly every Wednesday night with 15 participants attending on a regular basis. The club are now able to independently sustain this session and have aspirations to grow.

 

Traditional Sports Development

This approach partners CRT with a well established organisation that has a good track record of sports development to kick-start a series of satellite clubs in targeted former coalfield

communities via a Service Level Agreement.

Case Study:

A Service Level Agreement (SLA) was drawn up between CRT and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC). The SLA clearly specified the aims and delivery targets and target wards.

With CRT funding, RMBC were able to utilise area sports development officers and their community sports coach for athletics to set up sessions and coordinate the necessary support network; including marketing and promotion, holiday provision, training for volunteers, activity delivery and the sports coaching scholarship scheme for volunteers.

The satellite club sessions were provided free of charge in three target communities for a period of 12 weeks. Thereafter a small charge was introduced to cover facility hire / coach costs The clubs were branded as ‘Rotherham Rockets’ and proved immensely popular with between 30-45 participants regularly attending at each site.

All three satellite clubs are now fully sustainable and a further disabled session ‘Rockets Ability’ has been set up.

“Sports Legacy is not just about creating opportunities to participate in community sport or volunteering, it’s also about providing the support to fledgling groups to take root, grow and become able to sustain themselves”

 

If you are part of a Sports club that wants to add a junior section or increase its volunteer base then please contact the Jill North  on 07989 355 905 or Click here to e-mail Jill North