S A Z - What is a Sport Action Zone?

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. 