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ABOUT SPORT ACTION ZONES
A Totally New Approach to Delivering Sport...
"We
want to see everyone given a better sporting future..
so that the power of sport can be available to all,
and so that the passion of sport can continue to move
us and engage us and be part of our lives.
Sport matters."
Speech
by:
The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Tony Blair
Unfortunately for many people sport is simply not an option. Many communities that suffer the effects of poverty and deprivation have been shown to have low levels of participation in sport. It is also worrying that this will affect the next generation, with some of our young people growing up in an environment that has nothing to offer them and nowhere they can play sport.
This has usually come about because of a range of economic, social and physical factors, such as the cost of using facilities, poor access to transport, lack of information and a lack of sporting opportunities. We owe it to these communities to make changes.
Sport Action Zones will be trying to raise aspirations and help local communities to help themselves. They will help to identify what is really needed in each zone and involve local people in the planning process. The Sport England Lottery Fund will help to provide the resources to make this happen in partnership with local agencies. We will be providing support and dedicated staff to start things moving straight away.
Over time, we want to see a new network of schools, sports clubs and other voluntary groups working together. We want to see quality sporting and recreational opportunities that have been locally determined and that are open to all of the community.
Sport Action Zones are mainly about people, not buildings. The main support is focused around Sports and Community Development Officers, Coaches and Sports Leaders and other Outreach Workers.
The Zones will be testing new ways of working and new partnerships that will benefit all of English sport in the future. How sport can make a contribution to wider social and economic well being and how neighbourhood renewal can be used to promote sporting opportunities will be important areas of work.
The programme will mean more resources for the Zones, but also will try to ensure that everyone makes best use of what is already in place. New resources and facilities must be well managed, with the local community fully involved at all stages of their development and use.
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