Welcome back from a fun packed but very wet summer. In this issue we will focus on reporting back to you on the various summer programmes which have taken part all around the county during July and August. We will also have a look at whats to come in the next months and an update on Active Gloucestershire.
Chief Executive's Welcome
I would like to start by congratulating and thanking all those local authority sports centres and staff who worked tirelessly to provide shelter and assistance in those areas of the county affected by the floods. They set a tremendous example to everyone in very difficult circumstances.
As the county continues to count the cost and to slowly get back to work it is becoming apparent that the impact of the floods on sport and recreation may be long-lasting. In Cheltenham and Cirencester we have two major Leisure Centres that will be closed. Cheltenham Leisure Centre was completely flooded on the ground floor by over 1m high and is currently being gutted. Current estimates are that it will be closed for over 12 months. In Cirencester the recently opened Leisure Centre was undamaged but the plant room was completely flooded. A great deal of electronic equipment will have to be replaced and it is anticipated that the centre will be closed for 6 months.
Whilst both these centres will be insured the closure will have serious implications for clubs and individuals that use the centre and also for the school swimming programme. Switching to other centres and pools may not be always be feasible and will incur extra costs for those involved. A major issue going forward therefore is how to find ways to support the local clubs that operated from these centres? The issue of possible emergency support has been raised with Sport England and I hope that we will receive a response soon.
It is not just the clubs using these centres that face a challenge. Many have experienced damage to clubhouses and pitches and have a great deal to overcome just to continue to operate, especially if their insurance cover was less than adequate. There is a real risk that current membership and participation levels will decline and local communities lose the amenities and opportunities that these clubs provide. We are trying to build a full picture of any damage so if your club has suffered in any way as a result of the flooding please forward details to me at jstevens@glos.ac.uk.
Although local authority funding is hard pressed I hope that they will be able to respond positively to any helps for assistance. In times of financial hardship every penny helps and the Community Amateur Sports Club scheme featured elsewhere in this newsletter is an excellent way of achieving savings.
It is not all doom and gloom and in spite of the recent difficulties many projects and schemes continued to operate across the county. Some are featured in this edition and we are always keen to feature any reports of local schemes and programmes. We are also looking ahead to the season of annual awards and I am delighted that HSBC have once again agreed to be our main sponsor for this year’s awards evening on 9th November. Further details can be found in this newsletter so now is the time to think about nominating that special coach, volunteer, teacher and team that you think deserves recognition.
Yours in sport,
John Stevens
Chief Executive Officer
Gloucestershire SEN Youth Games
On 15th June 2007, Active Gloucestershire organised this years SEN Youth Games. Held at Oxstalls Tennis Centre the event saw over 300 participants from 32 schools. In addition to the 9 special schools catering specifically for disabled children the event was equally successful in attracting disabled pupils from 23 mainstream schools.
The day was made all the more special through the involvement of competitive athletes, such as Craig Johnson (GB Boccia) and special Guest, Paralympic Sailor, Stephen Thomas, from Sporting Champions, who delivered a motivational speech and assisted in the presentation of medals at the conclusion.
The programme was structured so that each participant was given the opportunity to choose 4 sports throughout the day, from a list ranging from Hockey and Football, to Boccia and Kurling. This saw high quality sessions organised and coached by staff from national governing bodies and local organisations such as Gloucestershire Dance.
The main organiser of the event, Anne-Dorte Andersen, who is employed by Active Gloucestershire with financial support from Gloucestershire County Council as the Sport and Physical Development Officer for Disabled People, was delighted with the success of the day. Anne emphasised that “the event can continue to develop, through the involvement of key partners such as each district council, the School Sport Partnerships and the volunteer base from Gloucestershire University and Star College, Cheltenham”.
Click here to see photos of the event. 
Hockey Summer Camp
Former Olympian Simon Mason was one of many International Hockey players, who helped provide coaching to young Hockey players from around the county. The 5 day camp, organised by Active Gloucestershire, was held in the beautiful surroundings of Wycliffe College in Stonehouse.
Following an exceptionally successful year for our County hockey teams, the camp was aimed at both the social player and the budding Olympians. Camp organiser and part-time hockey development officer Angie Pearce said "it’s important to offer opportunities to all players regardless of their aspirations. The camp is a great opportunity to get children from all over the county together to have a bit of fun whilst remaining active through the long school summer holiday".
The coaching, led by Colin Dexter from Midlands hockey, benefited from a wealth of both local and regional coaches.
For the full story and more photos click here.
Mini Athletics Camp
The Active Gloucestershire Mini Athletics camp took place at the Blackbridge track Monday 30th July - Friday 3rd August during the water shortage.
Lorraine Shaw, Active Gloucestershire Athletics Development Officer and a British record holder with the hammer and 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medallist took charge of the camp.
"It was for children between eight and twelve and it gave everyone who came along a taste of athletics sportshall-style," she said.
"That means they were using safe equipment such as a soft javelin and other specially designed equipment. This gives the children the basics of athletics in a fun and safe environment, so they know what it will be like when they go to a club. This has been a great experience for the children and I hope it becomes an annual event from now on" said Lorraine.
Around the County
Summer of Sport a Big Hit In Cheltenham
The Summer of Sport offered children the opportunity to have a go at all kinds of activities with events at parks and schools across the borough. Unfortunatley due to the summer floods and water shortage the first week of the scheme was cancelled but over 6 weeks Cheltenham Borough Council have seen 1,000 children take part in its Summer of Sport scheme.
A number of different events took place with high profile athletes champoining some events. The street dance sessions saw A 
WORLD-renowned dancer with an impressive CV touring Cheltenham. Jason Piper played the lead in a recent world tour of Swan Lake and has danced with the likes of Kylie Minogue and Christina Aguilera. But at the moment Jason is perhaps most famous for his role as Bane in the recently released Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Click here to read the whole story.
Ashley Giles launched the Urban Cricket event at several schools in Cheltenham during July and provided the scheme with over 1,500 urban cricket packs to give away. 
Click here to read the full story.
For further information on whats happening in Cheltenham click here.
Youngsters’ Express Themselves
Expressive young people with disabilities completed an integrated dance workshop in partnership with Gloucestershire Dance and Stroud Ability Sports Club on Tuesday 14th August at Stratford Park Leisure Centre.
Young people from St Roses School on their summer holiday programme and children from Cheltenham and Gloucester participated in the 1 hour workshop. The workshop encouraged the young people to explore the way they move, different shapes they can make with their bodies, working in a group and preparing and showing a group routine.
Hannah Drew, Community Disability Development Officer for Stroud said: - “It was brilliant to see how creative the young people were and the moves and routines they created. Music allows people of any ability to express themselves and these young people proved that.”
Wheelchair football comes to Stroud
On Tuesday 14th August, 14 young people participated in a wheelchair football session at St Roses School, Stroud. The session was organised in partnership with Gloucestershire Football Association, Stroud District Council and Stroud Ability Sports Club as part of St Roses School summer holiday programme. Not only did students on the programme attend but children from Cheltenham and Gloucester took up the opportunity to have a go at this up and coming sport.
Youngsters participated in activities which helped them to develop their dribbling skills, movement on and off the ball and shooting.
"It was fantastic so see so many youngsters’ having the opportunity to participate in wheelchair football. It is not something that is played widely across the district and we hope to develop it over the coming months" said Hannah Drew.
The South Cerney National Angling Festival for Anglers with Disabilities.
The Annual South Cerney National Angling Festival for anglers with Disabilities 2007, saw 130 participants from all over the country attending. The event increased its focus this year through a strong partnership, involving Active Gloucestershire and the Environment agency, each being key to the inclusion of a junior section. Additionally, the National Angling Federation, provided highly qualified coaches, to give advice and assist in the development of key skills.
The new focus on a junior element saw Anglers from Alderman Knight, Belmont and Cirencester Kings Hill Schools, alongside members of Forest of Dean Contact a Family, become involved in the sport, many of them for the first time.
The day was a great success, with the junior participants being keen to thank the organisers, and all wishing that future events will continue to grow in size and focus.
For information on Sport and Physical Activies for disabled people click here.
2012 Comes Closer To Gloucestershire
Chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and double Olympic gold medallist, Lord Sebastian Coe, flew in to Hartpury College by helicopter on September 12th to officially open the new £4.6 million International Indoor Hartpury Equine Arena.
Photo by Roy Riley
Accompanied by Guy Lavender, South West England Director for the 2012 Games and Malcolm Wharton, Principal of Hartpury College, Lord Coe toured the outstanding sporting and equestrian facilities on campus, met with players who represented the College’s winning teams at the Football and Rugby BUSA Championship Finals last season and watched a thrilling dressage demonstration from Paralympic Gold Medallist, Lee Pearson MBE.
Hartpury College has invested in excess of £4.6 million to build the world class arena complex that provides a fantastic teaching environment for students and a top-class competition venue to stage local, regional and international competition. The Hartpury Arena includes a 70m x 40m competition surface, a covered warm-up area, a 150 seat panoramic restaurant and bar, seating for 600 spectators and hospitality boxes/classrooms.
Following the recent success of the venue’s inaugural event, the FEI World Para Dressage Championships, the Arena is already establishing itself as a prime location for major events in the equestrian calendar. During 2008 it has been selected as the host venue for the Blue Chip Winter Show Jumping Championships; the British Dressage Winter Championships; the International Para Dressage CPDEI 3* and the RDA National Championships. Hopes are high that Hartpury will be selected as a training camp venue for one or more teams in the run up to 2012.
During the opening ceremony, Sebastian Coe said: “It gives me great pleasure to officially open Hartpury’s International Arena. This state of the art competition venue and teaching facility will be an asset to Equestrian sport both at community and elite level. This is what we will achieve in the legacy of the permanent venues we are building for the London 2012 Games.”
Guy Lavender added: “We are very grateful for Lord Coe coming to Hartpury to see this world-class venue. His visit will give impetus to those training here, while also giving people the opportunity to find out more about London 2012 and our legacy plans in the South West.”
Other 2012 News
DCMS has now launched "Winning: A Tourism Strategy for 2012 and Beyond", following the widest-ever consultation of the tourism sector. The strategy was launched on 17th September 2007 by Secretary of State, James Purnell, and the Minister for Tourism, Margaret Hodge. "Winning" has been developed in full partnership with VisitBritain and Visit London. It provides a blueprint to help the £85 billion tourism industry gear up to prepare to welcome millions of new visitors in the lead up to and beyond London 2012.
A high proportion of the economic benefits of the Games will come from tourism. DCMS’s latest research forecasts that additional tourist turnover over 2007-17 is likely to be in a range up to £2.9 billion – with £2.1 billion the central estimate. £1.85 billion of this central estimate will be in London, and we are projecting the tourism gains for the rest of the UK at between £0.3 and £0.7 billion.
The Strategy’s action plan for the six years between 2007 and 2013 includes:
- the framework under which Government, VisitBritain and Visit London, and the industry will market the UK at home and overseas;
- a cross-UK public/private sector marketing campaign starting at the Beijing handover, with all 180,000 UK tourism businesses given the chance to get involved;
- governments plans to make the most of the Cultural Olympiad right across the nation;
- new initiatives in product quality (the hotel “star” schemes): with a new £1.6 million for London, and national work which will benefit the whole of the UK;
- skills work alongside the National (Tourism) Skills Strategy;
- plans for real changes in the industry’s response to disability issues.
Click here to view the full strategy
For general information on the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London click here.
Women's Football World Cup
On the 11th September, England's Women kicked off their quest for World Cup Glory. As part of the build up to Englands first appearance in the FIFA Womens World Cup for 12 years the Gloucestershire Football Association (GFA) Women's and Girls Football Development Officers toured the county gathering signatures and good luck messages on 8 England flags which were sent to the England team in China. To read more about the Gloucestershires flag signing tour please visit www.gloucestershirefa.com
England results:
- 11th September England 2 v Japan 2
- 14th September England 0 v Germany 0
- 17th September England 6 v Argentina 1
- 22nd September Engalnd 0 v USA 3
Congratulations on a great effort!
Click here to find out more about the England Women's Team
For informationm on Womesn's and Girls Football in Gloucestershire click here.
Talent Identification and Development
The first Talent Academy for Gloucestershire's school pupils, took place over the first weekend of the new School Term. The event was hosted at the University of Gloucestershire, Oxstalls Campus and organised by Angie Pearce Active Gloucestershire's Talent Development Co-ordinator.
Active Gloucestershire worked in joint partnership with the School Sports Co-ordinators (SSCo’s) and Partnership Development Managers (PDM’s) to organise the academy which was funded by Gloucestershire Local Education Authority.
The Academy was aimed at all year 7 school pupils as part of the new Gifted and Talented Programme in schools. The pupils attending the weekend were selected from a series of testing days at both a district and county level.
The two day format firstly saw multi skills training which focused on the player’s abilities in the 5 strands in cognitive, creative, physical, personal and social skills. This was followed by sports specific training in both afternoons where players had the choice of 2 sports from Rugby, Hockey, Kick-boxing, Athletics, Netball and Football.
The Academy also saw a number of sports stars assisting with the pupil’s sports specific skills. England Netball star Tamsin Greenway from Bath University showed the girls how to become an International netballer, whilst players from the Arsenal Football Academy led the boys in their football skills.
The weekend was a huge success and thanks must go to the coaches and specialists involved with making the weekend possible as well as the School Sports Partnerships, individual schools and Active Gloucestershire staff.
PE and School Sport Assistants (PESSA)
Stroud School Sports Partnership supported by Active Gloucestershire has embarked on a piolt scheme to enable young sports leaders to gain experience working in schools to support school sport during and outside curriculum time.
Through Active Gloucestershire the PESSA’s will also engage with the local community to develop school-club links, promote local clubs and act as a link to Active Gloucestershire for the club accreditation scheme. They will also as support school holiday programmes.
Kerry Dexter, Active Gloucestershire's Sports Development Team Leader for Coaching and Simon Thomas, Sports Coach UK Coach Development Officer will support the PESSA’s through their Personal Development Plans. They will also be involved with the Community Sport Coach development workshops and will have a Community Sports Coach who will act as a mentor.
The 7 appointed PESSA’s are based at the following schools:
- James Hemming - Thomas Keble
- Jess Rudge-Hamblin - Thomas Keble
- Fergus Kirby - Marling
- Maddy Massey - Stroud High
- Jade O'Connell - Archway
- Tom Deakin - Vale of Berkeley
- Miles Palmer - Rednock
Although in its infancy the scheme is being watched closely to see if it is capable of being extended to other parts of the county.
The PESSA's taking part in some teambuilding exercises as part of their induction.
Big Boost for School Sport Announced
The Prime Minister has announced the investment of an aditional £100 million for three years from 1st April 2008 to support further development and extension of the National School Sport Strategy which aims to increase the number of children and young people aged 5 - 19 participating regularly in Physical Education and Sport.
The additional money will provide for:
- the creation of sport co-ordinators in Further Education colleges linked to School Sports Partnerships;
- completing the roll out of school Competition Managers;
- top up grants to School Sports Partnerships to enable them to continue to pay for the use of Community Sports Coaches in schools;
- multi sports clubs for children with special needs linked to School Sports Partnerships;
- supporting the development of extended club activity designed to attract a different type of young person.
We expect to learn more about what this will mean for us in Gloucestershire and what new oportunities we may have over the next few months so watch this space for further details.
To view the press release for this click here.
Hello and Goodbye
Active Gloucestershire welcome two new PhD Students from the University of Gloucestershire who will be working closely with us on researching issues to do with increasing and sustaining physical activity in the county.
Welcome, Chris Owens and Colin Baker
Gloucestershire Football Association Football Development Officer Appointed
Gloucestershire Football Association have appointed Gary Probert as the County’s new Football Development Officer.
Gary will be responsible for school, club and volunteer development throughout the County for the next three and a half years.
For the last 2 years, Gary has held a similar position at Forest Green Rovers F.C where he worked extensively across all levels of Football Development.
After completing his BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching at University of Wales Institute, Cardiff in 2004, Gary is also now the holder of the Level 3 Coaching Certificate (UEFA B Licence).
Commenting on his new role, Gary said that he cannot wait to get started: “I know the GFA have been without a FDO for a while now so I can’t wait to start getting into things and start to make up for lost time”.
For any Football Development related queries please call Gary at the GFA on 01454 615888 or via e-mail at gary.probert@gloucestershirefa.com.
We say goodbye to... ...
Niki Gabb who after a year with Active Gloucestershire's core staff has decided to return to University to study physiotherapy at Oxford Brooks. Niki we wish all the best of luck in your studies.
Lorraine Shaw who has now left Active Gloucesterhsire and has taken up a new consultancy coaching role with UK Athletics in Birmingham. We wish Lorraine well in her new role to develop women's throwing events.
Kelly Jones, Volleyball Community Sports Coach has moved to the Oxford CSP (County Sports Partnership) which is closer to home for her, All the best Kelly.
Sophie Whittaker, Hockey Community Sports Coach has left Active Gloucestershire to return to full time education at the University of Gloucestershire to study Social Work. Good luck with your studies Sophie.
Nick Bartlett, Rugby Community Sports Coach will be leaving Active Gloucestershire this week to pursue a new career. Good luck in your new job Nick.
Laura Stembridge has left Tewkesbury Borough Council and moved onto to new pastures by going to work for Atkins in the Management Consultancy arm of the company in their Cheltenham office. We wish her all the best in her new career.
