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Beijing Launch for South West Pre Games Training Camps
Sixty venues from across South West England have been announced in Beijing by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games at a Reception for senior representatives of National Olympic Committees (NOC). The London 2012 Pre Games Training Camp Guide showcases the UKs venues. South West venues are well represented across the seven counties and Guy Lavender, South West England Director for the 2012 Games and Ged Roddy, the representative for South West England on the London Organising Committees Nations and Regions Group, are in Beijing to showcase the venues and continue to build relationships for the sole purpose of persuading leading nations to base themselves in the South West during the run up to the London 2012 Games. Download Press Release. Download The South West England: Pre-Games Training Camp Guide (pdf- 40.86kb) for a list of venues.
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Construction starting on Decoy Skate Park
After hard work and commitment from local people and Teignbridge Council, an exciting new state-of-the-art Extreme Sports facility is under construction at Decoy Country Park. Kye Forte, world champion BMX rider and driving force behind the project (pictured), met Teignbridge Council Chairman David Weekes to break ground on the site ahead of construction getting underway. The BMX and skate park will be one of the best in the country, and will be unrivalled in the South West. When completed, it will feature top-quality Concrete Bowl Skate park, secure fencing, CCTV, a timber acoustic noise barrier, and nearby BMX track alterations: the result being a brand new attraction for Teignbridge. Jim Clarke, Regional Director Sport England South West comments: "I am delighted to have supported this innovative project with lottery funding. It is particularly pleasing that it has been driven by the local young people and being an open access facility it's a great way to engage the community to get involved, get active, and really experience what a lifestyle sport has to offer. It demonstrates all of the aspects that sport should be: accessible, challenging, fun, healthy, and most of all - enjoyable for everyone. Extreme sports are really taking off across the country and this will really help put Teignbridge and its young people on the map." Download press release.
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Healthy workplace scheme achieves international recognition
What started out as a healthy workplace scheme set up by Caradon District Council and piloted by Ginsters to improve the health of their employees and their families has gone on to beat hundreds of entries from as far afield as China and Australia and win the 2008 World Leisure International Innovation Prize. Councillor John Turner, leader of Caradon District Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see that Cornwall can still teach the rest of the world a thing or two. This is the first time that a UK project has won the World Leisure International Innovation Prize, so it’s not just a coup for Caradon and Cornwall but also for the country as a whole....What the judges really liked about the active workplace concept is that it can be adapted for other employers and situations and is both sustainable and affordable in the long term. If it can succeed in rural Cornwall on a modest budget for a factory that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it can work anywhere. A little vision can achieve remarkable outcomes.” The judges were also impressed by the benefits that the scheme brought to the wider community, which ranged from bolstering the town’s economy and local sports clubs to helping to secure improved cycle and walkways for the surrounding area. Read Caradon press release and view case study.
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South West on course to be the best for Off-Road Cycling
An innovative project is set to position the south west as the very best off-road cycling and mountain biking destination in the UK. Thanks to funding from Sport England, the south west now has a dedicated off-road cycling development co-ordinator tasked to maximise the regions potential for this fast growing activity. Paul Hawkins joined the Forestry Commission (lead project partner), from Exmoor National Park, where he was the recreation manager for eight years. Commenting on his new role Paul said: "I am really excited to be part of such a forward thinking and exciting project. The south west has the perfect landscape and scenery along with robust areas of plantation woodland, which offer world class riding potential. We will be developing a number of key sites across the region, both on private and public land, for rides at all abilities. The sport is becoming increasingly popular with both local residents and visitors and can be enjoyed whatever the weather, which offers the region a great opportunity to increase tourism all year round." Read press release.
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Sport England launches consultation on sports lottery grant making
Sport England has launched a public consultation to make sure future projects, like Taunton Vale Hub Club, can access up to £45m of sports lottery funding as quickly and simply as possible. The Taunton Vale ‘Hub Club’ was recently awarded £300k as part of the Sport England sport lottery funding process. The grant will go towards establishing a Multi-Sports Hub Club in the Taunton area - focusing on hockey, netball, tennis and cricket, together with other sports such as football and basketball on site. The Taunton Vale site aims to become the focal point for sport in Taunton and will build on the “Team Taunton” ethos – encouraging locals to get involved in their sporting community. Those joining the Taunton Vale Hub Club will enjoy membership which extends to the local football club, athletics club, basketball and swimming clubs. Sport England would like to hear from people who play sport, from clubs, voluntary groups, local authorities and other key stakeholders to get a view on how the process of applying for sports Lottery funding can be improved. Anybody can access the consultation online at www.sportengland.org/consultation, and hard copies are available on request by calling the consultation help line on 0845 850 8508 or e-mailing consultation@sportengland.org. The public consultation started on 25 June and runs for 12 weeks, closing on 16 Sep 2008. Read regional press release.
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Media team
Contact Sport England South West's media team for information and comment on our work in the region, sports funding and other sports and physical activity related issues.
If the Regional team are not available to answer your enquiry, please contact the national "Press Office" team through the main switchboard number 08458 508 508 or for out of hours media enquiries contact 07881 502207.
Jason Lyons
Communications and Knowledge Manager
Sport England South West
Tel: 0207 273 1840
Fax: 01460 77263
Mobile: 07920 297437
Golley Slater Public Relations
Castlemead
Lower Castle Street
Bristol
BS1 3AG
Tel: 0117 917 5170
Fax: 0117 917 5129
Mobile: 0788 953 196 |
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