Here you will find archived news (older than 2 months) from the Latest News from Active Gloucestershire and Beyond page.
Extending Participation in School Sport: Speech by Kevin Brennan
He talks about participation in sport and, in particular, sport in schools, leading up to the 2008 Olympic Games.
To view a transcript of the speech by Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children, Young People and Families Kevin Brennan at the Westminster Hall Debate on 17 January 2008, click here.
22-01-08 @ 16:18
New Direction for Sport England
The Secretary of State has directed that from April 2008 Sport England’s main priority will be to deliver a world class community sports development system for children (age 5 upwards) and adults. This will include increasing participation in sport as a contribution to getting 2 million people more active by 2012. Sport England will continue to play an important role in delivering school sport and the new 5 hour sports offer for children and young people and will also continue to have responsibility for funding non-Olympic and non-Paralympic elite performance sport.
He has also asked for a particular emphasis on talent and excellence.Talent development can be divided into four stages:
- Stage 1 – ‘learn to train’ is about getting started and beginning to improve in Sport e.g. joining a club and beginning to compete in a league.
- Stage 2 – ‘train to train’ e.g. getting a level 2 or above coach to work with the team to develop them as players.
- Stage 3 – ‘train to compete’ (at which point an individual is recognised and identified a talented) is about teams and individuals getting personalised training which takes them towards being selected to represent England/Great Britain.
- Stage 4 – ‘train to win’ is about world class performance and development.
So in terms of talent development Sport England’s new strategy is likely to cover the first three stages with UK Sport then taking over and managing stage 4 for Olympic and Paralympic sports.
The Secretary of State wants the new strategy to deliver a world class community sports development system to be in place by April 2008. He has said that in drawing up plans Sport England must work on the basis of a “tight definition of sport”. So, for example recreational cycling and walking are likely to be excluded from the definition but team sports like football, netball, basketball and hockey will definitely be included. Sport England are clarifying with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport the exact list of which activities are in or out of the definition and will send further information as this is received. Although initially ruled out the Secretary of State has done some more thinking about the definition and has decided that going to the gym should be included.
He has also underlined that in refocusing Sport England to deliver a world class community sports system he was not dropping the ambition of getting 2 million people more active or questioning Sport England’s position in – or re-organising - the sporting landscape (which in plain English means he is not planning to abolish Sport England). He has also been at pains to emphasise that his agenda was not just about the talented or elite and that grassroots sport was just as important.
This tight timeline will not allow Sport England to undertake a full scale national or regional consultation exercise. However, it will involve key partners – including NGBs, YST, UK Sport, Sports Coach UK and others – in the work to draw up the new strategy and as part of agreeing future plans with Ministers there will also be a formal external challenge process. Sport England’s Chief Executive (Jennie Price) has written to a number sports governing bodies, local authorities and county sports partnerships seeking views and a copy of Active Gloucestershire’s response can be viewed by clicking here to download the pdf letter.
Making a difference for priority groups will remain an essential part of Sport England’s work. We all want these groups to do more sport and the Secretary of State has underlined that we need to continue to give thought to these groups to make sure they benefit from a world class community sports development system.
What does this mean for Active Gloucestershire?
In the short term it is business as usual as Sport England draws up and agrees a new strategy for 2008-11 with Ministers. This means working towards the 1% increase in participation in sport among adults (aged 16 plus) in priority groups, together with working to support the children and young people strategy.
Our Board met before Christmas and reaffirmed its commitment to our mission of “making Gloucestershire a physically active and successful sporting county”. This means that in the future we will continue to support organisations to promote increased physical activity in our communities but that funding to enable this to happen will have to come from sources other than Sport England. Nationally there is a cross-department review of government departments led by the Treasury that is examining how best to promote physical activity in the future and this is due to report at the end of March. In the meantime locally we will continue to discuss with local partners where we may be able to make a contribution.
We have started our own internal business planning process for 2008 – 09 and will be working closely with Sport England to ensure that this is aligned closely with what emerges from their new strategy. In reality this is likely to see an enhanced focus on working with governing bodies of sport to find ways of implementing their plans for developing coaching, officials, clubs and volunteers in their sport and continuing to support the County’s school sport partnerships in their work. Interestingly the work that we have done already with colleagues in the school sports partnerships on creating and implementing an integrated model for talent development will fit neatly with the emphasis on talent development that the Secretary of State has asked for.
18-01-08 @ 14:41
Creating a World Class Community Sport System in England
Active Gloucestershire's response to Sport England consultation.
Please click here to download Active Gloucestershire's letter dated 16.01.08 to Sport England.
18-01-08 @ 14:40
£130 million ‘grassroots grants’ scheme
The Cabinet Office has unveiled the name of a new, multi-million pound funding programme to boost local community organisations with much-needed access to small grants and long-term financing. It also announced the appointment of the Community Development Foundation as its lead national partner in delivering the scheme.
Click here to read the full report.
Sport Worth Over £15 Billion A Year To Nation's Economy,
Research By Sport England Finds 10/01/08
Sport worth over £15 billion to nation's economy - a growth of nearly 50% in five years.
Research commissioned by Sport England shows that sport-related economic activity in England reached a record high of £15.47 billion in 2005. This includes everything from sales of sports clothing and equipment to jobs in the sports industry.
This is nearly a 50% increase since 2000. The growth in England’s sport economy has outstripped that of the economy as a whole, as well as comparable sectors such as gambling.
Karren Brady, CEO of Birmingham City Football Club and Board Member of Sport England, said:
“This research shows the sporting pound is very important to the economic health of the nation. More people are using their wages to go and watch matches, buy sports clothing or splash out on the latest sports equipment. More importantly, new jobs are being created and sports clubs are benefiting from increase in subscriptions.”
Key findings from the report include:
• Sport-related economic activity in England increased from £10.37 billion in 2000 to £15.47 billion in 2005; an increase of almost 50%*.
• Consumer expenditure on sport in England increased from £11.81 billion in 2000 to £16.58 billion in 2005; an increase of 40%.
• The highest category of consumer spending is ‘participation subscription and fees’ at £3.5 billion in 2005 - more than sports-clothing and gambling categories.
• Spending on sports-related equipment increased from £0.7 billion in 2000 to £1.2 billion in 2005, an increase of 67%.
• Sports clothing (20%), subscriptions and fees (20%) and sports equipment (19%) accounted for the majority of consumer expenditure on sport in 2005, while admission to events accounted for just 4% of consumer sport expenditure.
• Sport-related employment in England stood at 434,000 jobs in 2005, an increase of 68,500 jobs (19%) since 2000.
• In 2005 sport-related employment in England accounted for 1.8% of all employment in the country, greater than the combined employment of the radio, TV and publishing sectors.
• The majority of sport-related jobs (76%) are in the commercial sector, with 12% in the voluntary sector and 12% in the public sector.
• Public and voluntary sector sport-related jobs increased from 63,000 in 1985 to 103,000 in 2005.
The research was carried out by the Sport Industry Research Centre (SIRC) at Sheffield Hallam University on behalf of Sport England.
*This is based on current prices.
ACTIVE GLOUCESTERSHIRE HAVE BEEN NOMINATED FOR A SPORTING CHAMPIONS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
As Active Gloucestershire have been using the Sporting Champions scheme so well this year, we have been offered the chance for an organisation in Gloucestershire the opportunity of receiving repeated visits from a Sporting Champion.
If your organisation is planning an event which fits the criteria set below by Sporting Champions then please let Kelly Farr, Marketing and Events Officer (kfarr@glos.ac.uk) know the details of your event by Wednesday 9th January and we will nominate your organisation for a visit.
The outline:
- The same Champion to work with the same group of young people
- Maximum 3 visits (potentially: one to launch, one to support and one to celebrate the young people's work)
- Aimed at increasing participation in community sport, school and club links and/or leadership and volunteering
- Small groups of young people (10-20 maximum)
The outcomes:
- Increased sustainability in community sport
- Increased opportunity to inspire young people
- Build up of relationship between Champion and young people
- Build up of relationship between Champion and youth organisation
The criteria:
- Community youth organisation (no schools please)
- Same group of young people
- Maximum 3 visits
- Maximum 4 hours per visit
- Visits must take place before 31 March 2008
- Outcomes measured to evidence effectiveness (short questionnaire to be completed following visits)
Sport England Responds to New Direction
Latest news from Sport England's Chief Executive Jennie Price following James Purnell's speech on 28/11/07 . Click here to download letter from Jennie Price sent on 30/11/07
Purnell’s Speech
James Purnell, Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport delivered a speech on world class community sport, looking at how to deliver this vision and roles of sporting bodies including Sport England.
He addressed an audience of more than 1,000 delegates to mark the opening the Youth Sport Trust's School and Sport Partnership's conference being held in Telford.
The Secretary's speech can be viewed on the DCMS web site be clicking here.
World class community sport – speech by Rt Hon James Purnell, Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport.
28 November 2007
Today I want to talk about how we can create world class community sport in this country.
There is an odd quality to political speeches: they can make almost anything sound dull. When it comes to sport this would really be some achievement.
Will England beat Croatia next time; will your son’s basketball team win the league; will your daughter’s football side; did you see Paula Radcliffe in New York; will Andy Murray win Wimbledon? These are subjects which are about passion.
The football World Cup finals and the Olympics are amazing celebrations of internationalism. They were global before globalization. No language or religion reaches as far as sport does around the world.
Sport is many things but it’s very rarely dull. Yet I bet I could manage it.
I could say things like:
- ten years ago there was hardly any direct investment in school sport. Since then, over £4 billion of Government and Lottery funding has been spent on sport at local and national level.
- 86% of pupils are now doing at least 2 hours of PE and sport in a typical week. In 2002 it was barely 25%.
The statistics never really tell the story. Let me remind you of one of our five promises when we won the bid to host the Olympics: to create a world class sporting nation.
That means three things: a world class school sport system, a world class community sports system, and a world class elite sport system.
I like to think of it as a pyramid with school sport as the first part of that.
We have set out an ambition, which we have backed with funding, to offer at least 5 hours of sport every week, to every child. Thanks to the work of the Youth Sports Trust and your hard work we have a world class PE and school sport system within our reach.
So, I want to offer you my heartfelt thanks for the commitment and passion you have brought to your work: we are building a world class school sport system.
And despite the disappointments of the last week on the football field we are on the way to having a world class elite sports system.
But don’t just take my word for that. Last week our great sporting rivals the Australians said that Britain was making “dramatic advances” at their expense and announced that they were upping their game to keep pace.
So it’s clear that we’re on the way to having a world class school sport and elite sport system but what we now need is to create a world-class community sports system. And that can be one of the biggest legacies of that great day in Singapore: to create an Olympic generation, to make sure that over the next five years when people of all ages get inspired to take up sport, there are clubs, facilities and coaches ready to welcome them.
Today, I want to talk to you about how we intend to make that vision come alive. It depends on two important insights: first that sport matters in itself and, second, that competitive sport is a good thing.
So, first, we need to be clear why we’re all here. It is because we share a passion for sport. This isn’t necessarily true of every subject. No doubt there are plenty of people with a passion for geography but I doubt they are as many as those who love sport.
I think it is important to establish this, not just to swap compliments with you, but because too often sport is justified on the basis of its spill-over benefits.
There is, of course, a good argument that sport is important because it enhances analytical ability, leadership and teamwork: or that literacy and numeracy can all be taught with examples drawn from sport. The justification for sport is in the Education Department.
There is a good argument that sport is important because it helps us deal with crime by diverting young people at risk away from trouble. The justification for sport is with the Ministry of Justice.
We hear too that sport keeps the voluntary sector buoyant. Nearly 2 million people give at least an hour a week to sport. They sustain over 100,000 affiliated clubs in England, serving over 8 million members. The justification for sport is in the Communities Department.
And yes, sport does have all these other benefits and I’m delighted about that. But they are not the reason we love it. They are not the reason the Government is committed to it. Sport is a joy and a passion, not because we can learn about Newton’s laws through the movement of a snooker ball, but because of the beauty of sport itself.
And part of that beauty is the competitive nature of sport.
I’ve always been confused over the debate about whether sport should be competitive. Sport is competitive. It’s like asking whether dancing should contain movement.
I’m delighted we’ve put behind us the damaging notion that competitive sport is bad for children. Sport teaches children how to win magnanimously and how to lose graciously.
Sport is about playing: the fact that, in the end, it’s a game is precisely what makes sport such a great arena for learning. It teaches children how to observe a code of rules, the importance of subordinating your personal desires to a team and the role of authority. Indeed, like most areas of intense competition, sport of course teaches people how to co-operate effectively.
For a long while we lost sight of these basic points. A combination of some well-meaning theories and an ill-disposed Government led to a decline in the infrastructure of competitive sport.
We will never build a world class community sports infrastructure unless we are clear that sport is a good thing and competition is a good thing. So what do we do?
There is an old management axiom that the man who has five priorities has none. That is why I am categorically sure that the purpose of Sport England is to deliver sport in England. Call me simple-minded but surely there’s a clue in the name.
There should be a clear focus on sport development and sports participation.
We are announcing the start of this process with a review of Sport England’s strategy to focus the delivery of an excellent sporting infrastructure from the grass roots up. That means creating excellent national governing bodies, clubs, coaches and volunteers, supported by the investment we've already made in facilities.
And the sporting bodies in our country will be critical. My offer to them is clear. We want to create whole sports plans, with a single funding pot. We will free them up from the bureaucracy and bidding that they complain about today.
But, in return, they will need to commit to clear goals to improve participation, coaching and the club structure. And in particular, they will need to show how they will reach groups who do less sport today, whether women, poorer groups or some ethnic minorities.
Of course sport has a role to play in tackling wider social problems. The rise of obesity is key amongst them, which the government is taking very seriously indeed. The DCMS is playing its part in raising participation in PE and school sport. But we can’t reduce obesity by ourselves.
That is why, I have agreed with the Department for Health and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury that we will work closely over the next few months to ensure that all relevant Government departments are working together to deliver a physical activity strategy for all. This work will provide absolute clarity of the roles and responsibilities for all the different organizations to meet our aim of 2 million more people being more active by 2012.
But sport can only play its full role in tackling social problems, if we invest more in community sport.
I want to make it clear that there isn’t a contest here between the elite and the grass-roots. This is about making sport excellent for everyone who wants to take part.
I genuinely believe sport could be on the threshold of a heralded era in this country. We have the perfect catalyst because, less than five years from now, we will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Then, two years later, the Commonwealth Games will be held in Glasgow. We have the prospect of the Rugby, Cricket and Football World cups coming to these shores.
We are at the dawn of an incredible decade of sport. And we would not forgive ourselves if we failed to create a community sports infrastructure to capitalise on that decade: to take the enthusiasm of those who watch our sports stars and turn it into a lifetime’s commitment to sport.
Seb Coe tells a story about how when he and Daley Thompson returned to the UK after their Olympic glory they went back to their sports club in Haringey.
They found a queue 50 metres long of young people who had been inspired by the Olympics to get involved. And Seb talks of the heartbreaking sight of the club turning young people away because they just didn’t have the capacity.
I wonder how many times this has been repeated at tennis clubs after Wimbledon fortnight, rugby clubs after the Rugby World Cup or cricket clubs after the Ashes. How many have missed out on the joy of sport? How many sporting stars has the country missed out on? How would we feel in five years time?
We never have had a better opportunity to enthuse a whole generation about sport. Just under four and a half million children will leave school between now and the summer of 2012. We must be able to meet the ambitions of this ‘Olympic Generation’.
The PM recently announced £100 million additional funding which will provide children with more opportunities to be coached by qualified sports coaches; to take part in competitive sport; to provide provision for children with disabilities; to improve sport outside school.
We are appointing a national network of 225 competition managers. They are establishing links with yourselves, with selected national governing bodies and with Sport England. We want to increase the amount of competition and will support it with better clubs and coaching.
The first UK School Games were held in Glasgow in September of last year. They will take place in a different city each year until 2012.
Together we can match our passion as spectators to a renewed passion for taking part. I can see how we get there. We need to give all children a good grounding in PE and sport at school. We need to clear the path for talented children to progress to higher standards. And then we need world-class clubs helping young people to progress into adult sport.
The years in front of us are very exciting. I’d like to end by thanking you all again for your continued dedication and commitment in everything you do. As a government we have always taken sport seriously. But it’s not a cliché to say it can’t be done without you.
Facilities are no good without coaches; programmes and funding packages are a waste without the ability and commitment of the people who put them into practice.
Our sports policy has a simple and powerful idea at its core: the idea
that if you have a talent we will remove every barrier in your way to help you achieve.
Competitive sport is a perfect meritocracy. The best rises to the top. But everyone has the chance to do their best. We want everyone, at all levels of ability, to find that passion. That is the beauty of sport: to fulfill our potential.
It does improve our health, it does help us to learn, it does help to bind a community. But its greatest virtue is none of these things. Its greatest virtue is to be found in the sheer joy of playing and competing.
Winning, losing, taking part, being as good as we can be.
Response from Jennie Price
"We share the Secretary of State’s aspiration to create a world class community sports system. I am confident that Sport England has the skills and experience to develop a genuinely robust and innovative framework which will deliver both an excellent sporting infrastructure and increase participation in sport.
Going forward we welcome the prospect of an independent challenge process as we refine our strategy, and will work closely with all our partners - DCMS, national governing bodies and others - to ensure that we have the right strategy and framework in place to deliver an excellent environment for people of all levels of sporting ability.
Sport England is now producing a strategy for 2008 - 11 and will work with a group put together by DCMS on this, which will include Richard Lewis, Rugby League Chairman, Youth Sport Trust Chief Executive Steve Grainger, together with Sport England’s Deputy Chair, Ged Roddy".
Sporting Champions Make a Splash At Cheltenham Youth Games
Olympic sailor Harriet Trundle and Commonwealth Games hurdler James Hillier were in Cheltenham on Wednesday 16th May cheering on local secondary school children taking part in the first ever ‘Cheltenham Youth Games’ event, organised by the Cheltenham Borough Council Sports Development Team.
With a giant climbing wall, golf coaching, orienteering challenge and an energy sapping bell boat regatta on the lake, the event attracted around 180 young people, aged twelve to fourteen years, from local secondary schools to enjoy a fun-packed day of alternative sports. Following consultation with School Sport Co-ordinators, the format of the event was targeted specifically at young people who do not participate in traditional school sport.
Matt Baker, the council’s youth sports development officer, said: “Everyone had a fantastic day trying out a range of different sporting activities. Our main aim is to encourage more young people to get involved in sport and active lifestyles, and this event certainly achieved that.”
This event marked the start of a very busy period for the Sports Development Team as they gear up towards their first ever Summer of Sport festival. For more details contact the Sports Development team at Cheltenham Borough Council on 01242 775121 or via the link on the "Your Area" section.
