COMMUNITY BUILDING
We believe that physical activity can help build healthier, stronger communities by bringing people together to participate, volunteer and spectate.
We are working with partners to support communities to use their existing assets and skills to create localised solutions that will ultimately build unifying and thriving communities for us all to enjoy.
Much of our work is already driving towards this goal. Take a look at some examples below.
We received funding from Sport England to help more schools open their facilities to children and the wider community during evenings, weekends and the school holidays.
The funding, which was provided as part of the Department for Education’s Covid-19 Recovery Plan, was distributed by us to 37 schools. We also provided them with advice and support to understand the challenges and find creative solutions to open their facilities and provide more sports clubs and activities to create opportunities for communities to get active.
We worked closely with, and received funding from, the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner’s (PCC) Office and their Violence Reduction Unit, to embed our Key Worker in Berwick.
Working in partnership with key stakeholders, our approach has been to use physical activity interventions as a method for tackling the issues and inequalities that exist for young men suffering with poor mental health, suicidal ideation, isolation, unemployment, learning difficulties, drug/alcohol abuse, debt, poverty, housing issues and/or offending.
In 2021-2022, we commissioned Leading Link, a small independent charity, to work with four secondary schools in Northumberland to empower Year 10 and 11 students to deliver sustainable extra-curricular activities for their peers.
The aim of the programme was to explore the power of young people to engage their peers in physical activity by providing them with appropriate training and skills.
The project produced some clear evidence indicating how the young volunteers developed skills and confidence to engage with their peers at schools
Our Leadership & Volunteering Programme supported over 300 young people aged 13-25 years, from across Northumberland and Tyne & Wear to access training and development opportunities to enhance their leadership and volunteering skills and knowledge.
We worked closely with schools, training providers and athletes to deliver a virtual learning programme for the young people to access. We then supported the young leaders to gain volunteering opportunities in a variety of activities and settings that will help provide and sustain physical activity across our community.
