Increasingly Active, Healthy and Successful Communities

1. Mark Thornewill, Director Sport Across Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Increasingly Active, Healthy and Successful Communities Meeting : Lecture Date : 6 December 2007 Location : Staffordshire University

2. Introduction • Understanding the challenges faced by Local Authorities in developing Sport and Leisure Polices • The environment they have to be developed in • Some of the main challenges faced • Importance of developing a strategic local strategy • The picture in Staffordshire – what a good strategy should look like.

3. Challenges to local Sport & Leisure Policies Changing national political agenda for sport Early 70’s • Sport for all • Sport for sports sake • Competition and developing performance pathways • Massive investment in facilities Early 80’s • Sports development focus Late 80’s • Compulsory competitive tendering

4. Challenges to local Sport & Leisure Policies Changing national political agenda for sport – cont. The 90’s • Sports contribution to the wider agenda • Game Plan • Health • Community Safety • Education – decline in PE 2000 • Partnership working across the wider agenda • Staff structures changed eg. Health Officers not Sports Development Officers • Local Strategic Partnerships • Local Area Agreements • Youth Sport Trust school sport • Sport England – community sport and participation – Active Sports then onto 16+ age group – Active People • UK Sport and elite level development

5. Challenges to local Sport & Leisure Policies Changing national political agenda for sport – cont. 2008 • Sport matters in itself • Competitive sport matters • Government to clarify roles and responsibilities of different departments and organisations to meet the aim of 2 million more people active by 2012

6. Challenges to local Sport & Leisure Policies • Non statutory function • Easy hit for Local Authorities to reduce funding • Cultural Strategy – a requirement one year then dropped • Resources • Capital – facility development • Revenue – sports development and facility management • External funding very often directed at wider agenda issues • Local authority aligned to these to access funding • Ghershon Efficiencies

7. Challenges to local Sport & Leisure Policies Corporate Priority • Merged departments • Leadership:- Political Officer Partnership Working • Engagement • Sharing of resources • Timing • Trust Role of County Sports Partnership • Effective delivery system for Sport and Active Recreation through partnership working

8. Importance of Developing Sport & Leisure Policies Vision and Rationale • Provides the vision for sport and active recreation in the local area • Purpose of the strategy clearly explained • Strategy has a city or borough-wide application • The grounds for public investment in sport are clearly stated Leadership and Organisation’s Core Values • The rationale for the lead organisation’s involvement in sport

9. Importance of DevelopingSport & Leisure Policies National and Regional context • Strategy relates to and utilises appropriate national policy and funding relevant to sport • Links with the Regional Plan for Sport • Takes account of the relevant changes in the external environment • Synergy with regional non-sporting agenda • Regional Cultural Strategy • Regional Development Framework • Regional Spatial Strategy • Regional Economic Strategy • Regional Framework for Health

10. Importance of DevelopingSport & Leisure Policies Local Context Ownership • Strategy is shaped by involvement of community partners, staff and others • Recognition of the power and potential of sport and its contribution to the achievement of local objectives • Addresses the issue of widening access for all • Audit of existing infrastructure and land use planning – open space, playing pitch and facility plans • People resources, structures and finance

11. Importance of Developing Sport & Leisure Policies The picture in Staffordshire • Findings of the Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent mapping exercise

12. Importance of DevelopingSport & Leisure Policies Key Local Policy Drivers of Sport and Active Recreation Strategies Recorded ‘Community Strategy, Corporate Plan, Community and Safety Strategy, Health Improvement Plan, Local Development Plan and Economic Strategy, Cultural Strategy, Local Strategic Partnership Strategy, Health and Environment Service Plan, Open Spaces and Playing Pitch Strategy, Sports Facilities Strategy, PCT Exercise Strategy Choices for a More Active Life’. Key Sub Regional Policy Drivers of Strategies Recorded Sports Across Staffordshire, Active Sports Partnership Development Plan. Key Regional Policy Drivers of Strategies Recorded ‘Sports Life - A regional Plan for the development of sport in the West Midlands (2001-2006), Sport England Regional Sports Board, Sport England West Midlands’. Key National Policy Drivers of Strategies Recorded ‘Game Plan (2002), World Class Initiative, Running Sport, Volunteer Investment Programme, Facilities Planning Model, Active Programmes: Schools, Sports, Communities (Sport England), Policy Action 10, A Sporting Future For All (DCMS, 2000) Sport England, GO - SRB, National Governing Bodies, Sport England 'More people, More Places, More Medals'’.

13. Importance of DevelopingSport & Leisure Policies Key Themes in Current Sport and AR Strategies ·        Tackle equality issues ·        Develop sporting pathways, club, coach and volunteer development ·        Raise profile of sport ·        Improve Health and quality of life through participation ·        Strategic coordination and planning ·        Facilities ·        School sport and education ·        Partnership working ·        Community safety ·        Economic regeneration ·        Community capacity ·        Targeted opportunities including 50+ Key Partners of Local Authorities Identified within Strategies Police Staffordshire Youth Offending Team Staffordshire Youth Service Sports Coach UK Staffordshire County Council Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke On Trent Housing Associations Colleges, Universities Connexions Staffordshire Local Authorities Children’s Fund Parish Councils Family Focus Groups Forestry Commission School Sport Partnerships Partnership Development Unit PCTs and Health Authorities Young Carers Associations National Governing Bodies of Sport Local Charities Sport England Able Too Forum Sports Councils Barnardos Sport Across Staffordshire

14. Importance of Developing Sport & Leisure Policies Complementary Strategies

15. Importance of Developing Sport & Leisure Policies Complementary Strategies

16. Importance of Developing Sport & Leisure Policies Challenges to preparing robust sport and active recreation strategies • Resources – people – expertise and experience Practioners Time – part of the day job – Financial – cost of consultants • Corporate Priority – where does sport sit in the Political agenda? Sport is not a statutory service Utilise requirement for LDF and possibly LAA • Leadership – • Engagement with Partners – effective consultation and delivery. Justification for establishing a Community Sports Network

17. Importance of Developing Sport & Leisure Policies Challenges to implementing

18. Importance of Developing Sport & Leisure Policies What does a good Sport & Active Recreation Strategy look like? • Development • Clarity of vision – strategic choices and priorities established • Development supported by evidence – Active People • Issues identified are strategic in nature and reflect the internal and external environment • Shared ownership from a range of partners – developed in consultation including non-sporting partners as appropriate • Leadership responsibilities identified • Aligns supply with demand. Sets out plans for change based on assessment of need and sustainability Conclusion

19. Importance of Developing Sport & Active Recreation Strategies • Implementation • Action Plan • Resources identified • Phased planning and timescale for delivery • Lead responsibility for delivery identified. Partners identified • Objectives are SMART

20. Importance of Developing Sport & Leisure Policies Sport England Fit for Purpose Assessment Framework Producing a Sport & Active Recreation Strategy www.sportengland.org Sport Across Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Sport & Active Recreation Strategies mapping exercise – August 2007 www.sportacrossstaffordshire.co.uk (see Sport & Leisure Policies lecture under Resources for a copy of this presentation)