The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot.

Photo: CREST project

"I am pleased to report ongoing good progress with the strategy for 2008- 2011. Final focus groups and partner responses are currently being collated. The Secretary of State has agreed the outline strategy and will hopefully be in a position to sign off the detailed delivery plan and make a formal announcement next month.  We will time the next edition of our newsletter around being able to share that detail with you. Thanks to all of you who have been involved in the consultation process and for your responses, often under very tight deadlines!

"I also welcome all partners registered with Sportscoach UK South West who are receiving this edition for the first time.  For a trial period, we will be carrying all the Sportscoach UK updates that would have previously been sent to you under a separate mailing. 

"Within this month's edition, I would ask that you highlight the @Bristol LoveSport Exhibition promotion to your relevant groups, family and friends. It would make a very inspiring summer term school trip or day out in Bristol.  Please also cascade details of our Asda Sporting Chance physical activity campaign out to the various lesiure centres and trusts within your patch.  Let's take the chance to make a real difference to participation for our young people across the Region.

"We also now have a region-wide funding bulletin which will be updated fortnightly. It has come about from the good practice in Wiltshire (Wiltshire County Council and the South and West Charities Information Bureau) being adopted by each county's Funding Advisor Network (FAN). The bulletin contains information on national, regional, county and local funding opportunities.  It will be a valuable resource for your groups and I encourage you to sign up for alerts.  We will also carry the latest links and editions within the newsletter for your convenience.

"I also encourage your direct feedback on the Active People and Social Enterprise surveys we are currently undertaking. Your feedback is important and really does help shape the future"

Kind Regards.

Jim Clarke
Regional Director
Sport England SW
Jim.clarke@sportengland.org

LoveSport

Get sporty with At-Bristol - calling all Schools, Clubs and family and friends!

Sport England has teamed up with South West tourist attraction, At-Bristol, to offer fantastic group discounts on entry to its interactive LoveSport exhibition.

More than 18,000 people from across the South West have visited the exhibition so far, which is running throughout the summer to coincide with the Beijing Olympics.

For group bookings of 10 or more people, At-Bristol is offering special entry prices from just £3.95 for children and £6 for adults – that’s a 50p discount on the normal ticket entry price! Or for advanced booking and production of the promotional voucher we can offer £1.50 off family entry or 50p off per person.

Supported and funded by Sport England and the Millennium Commission, LoveSport aims to educate the widest possible audience on the fun, challenge, and science of sport.

The interactive exhibition is full of fun and challenging activities, from tag and the Tour de France, to penalty shoot-outs, basketball, and the Paralympics. As well as learning about the science of sport, budding young athletes have the chance to test their coordination and reactions and learn what it takes to be a record-breaking competitor.

Jim Clarke, Regional Director Sport England South West comments: “The LoveSport exhibition really is a great way to educate and encourage the community to get involved, get active, and really experience what sport has to offer.

“It demonstrates all of the aspects that sport should be: accessible, fun, healthy, and most of all – enjoyable for everyone,” he said. To complement a visit to the LoveSport exhibition, At-Bristol is hosting a range of great activities over the next few months: The speedy sporty show, Action reaction, Sports day, Meet the expert - Cricket.

Click to discover what's on offer and download your promotional voucher.

To book tickets, or for more information, contact the At-Bristol bookings team, quoting the Sport England Discount Offer, on 0845 345 1235, or email information@at- bristol.org.uk.

The exhibition runs until 7 September 2008.  Visit the exhibition website.

Cultural Olympiad in the SW

Key Information

The following key pieces of information form the next tier in the narrative about the Cultural Olympiad in the South West. They will answer many of your questions and help you see a way forward in your engagement with it.

Marking Handover

This document is aimed at Local Authorities and key regional organisations and explains what HANDOVER and LAUNCH are all about and how to participate on the day/s.  This is the most important document – in terms of timescales – of the three.  Please ensure senior cultural officers (and more) in Local Authorities across the region are aware, and to use your networks to inform other key organisations (RFOs etc).

The Extra Mile - The Journey of a Lifetime

The Extra Mile outlines the themes (or vision, if you like) for the Cultural Olympiad in the South West.  It is key for anyone wanting to propose a project for inclusion under the Cultural Olympiad umbrella and access to the “Inspired by Brand”.

The Extra Mile - Guidelines for Engagement

The guidelines explain the preliminary steps organisations wanting to propose a project and get the brand, should go through.

If you are planning an event at the time of Handover or Launch, there is also an Event Form that you can fill in and send back to richard.crowe@culturesouthwes t.org.uk.

The Cultural Olympiad Background Briefing

This briefing produced by LOCOG (the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games) explains the context of what the Olympiad is about and  the “Inspired By Brand”.

For more information on the Cultural Olympiad in the SW contact

Richard Crowe, 2012 Creative Programmer
Culture South West, Sterling House, Dix's Field, Exeter, EX1 1QA
t:  07956 050756
e: richard.crowe@culturesouthwes t.org.uk

Surveys

Social Enterprise Survey

RISE (the voice for South West social enterprise) is undertaking a piece of research on behalf of Sport England to find out about organisations in the sport sector that are driven by a social or environmental objective, and earn income by providing services or products, either to a paying customer or under a public sector contract. The aim of this work is to develop ways in which these organisations can be supported in their growth to provide outstanding services.

If your organisation is based in the South West region please complete this online survey.

Thank you for contributing to making this project a success. Everyone who responds will be entered into a prize draw to win an ethical luxury food hamper to the value of £100. To find out more about RISE visit www.rise-sw.co.uk.

Active People Survey and Market Segmentation

Sport England South West Region is conducting a short survey to find out how our partners have used the Active People Survey and market segmentation research. The feedback obtained will help us to evaluate how well Sport England’s research has enabled our partners to work more effectively. Please take the time to give us your thoughts before 30 April 2008. Please click to complete the survey which should take no more than 5 minutes. Thank you.

Campaigns

ASDA Sporting Chance

Launching summer 2008, this campaign will inspire thousands of children throughout the UK to get involved with sport. It has the backing of the key bodies in UK sport and delivers against Government’s ‘Every Child Matters’ agenda.

Responding direct to London 2012, the long term commitment will enhance community sport participation through to 2013…

Following a successful pilot in Manchester plans are currently being developed to roll the programme out across the Country from Summer 2008.  The campaign will run for the next 6 years and create a lasting sporting legacy for our young people. A number of leisure providers such as Greenwich Leisure Ltd, DC Leisure and Parkwood Leisure have already signed up, with a total of 50 private / public  /trust owned and LA run organisations involved. However there is still the opportunity to be involved to fill gaps in delivery.

The commitment from leisure providers is to provide free child sport session in return for the Asda vouchers distributed in store.

The benefits for the providers are:
- publicity and association at store and on website
- link with business in the community and access to Asda shoppers
- contact details of the individual taking part in the sport to try and capture their long term participation in sport.
- the long term nature of the campaign – every school holiday (excluding Christmas) up until 2013
- first chance linkages and opportunities with the SW Regional Media campaign “Lets Go” being run by Sport England and the South West Media Group
- potential volunteer opportunities in future years for Asda staff to help and join in and maybe even complete training courses to assist in delivery of the programmes

If you are interested in participating in this programme please email Jason.Lyons@sportengland.org at the Sport England South West Regional Office to find out how to be involved. He will put you in contact with your local County Sport Partnership coordinator.

Raising Awareness

New Case Studies

Sport England funding has enabled many partners to deliver benefits for whole communities and help people become more physically active. We have showcased initiatives which demonstrate the power sport and physical activity have to transform lives, whether young or old, at work or at play.

Water Based Hockey Pitch, The University of Exeter Sports Park

The University of Exeter has secured status as a top 10 institution in the BUSA Championships, with their teams competing for national titles in competitions including climbing, golf, hockey, judo, rowing, rugby union, sailing, soccer, surfing, squash and tennis. The University’s development programme has improved their sports facilities so they now rank in the top 10 too, alongside their sporting performance.  Read how they are delivering on their mission.

The Hartpury Academy of Sport, Gloucestershire

The academy, established in 2000 at Hartpury College, enables talented athletes to continue their academic education, whilst developing their abilities and increasing their potential of becoming outstanding rugby players, footballers, golfers, riders and modern pentathletes. With numerous sporting achievements in 2007, read why the Academy of Sport formula is working.

Richard Huish College, Taunton

Richard Huish College is a centre of sports excellence, attracting students from a wide area. It generates excellent results, placing first among the FE colleges in the South West and fourth nationally in the 2007 college performance tables.

Read about the benefits for the college and local community at all abilities and all age levels in this case study.

University of Bath Sports Training Village

The University of Bath’s Sports Training Village is a world-class sports facility used as a training base by Olympic and world-level athletes. It also provides facilities and services to local, regional and national sports groups, squads, University students and individual members of the public.

Read more about the Training Village.

Bristol Academy of Sport

The Academy is based at Filton Further Education College to the north of Bristol, and provides sports coaching and college-level education to potential elite-level athletes. Read about their many partnerships, TEAM initiative and LEAP progrqamme in this West case study.

LoveSport Exhibition At-Bristol

LoveSport, the exhibition, is everything that sport should be - accessible, fun, challenging and most of all, for everyone! The exhibition combines all the feelings associated with sporting endeavor from local sport to world superstardom. Additional funding from Sport England enabled the exhibition to be further enhanced by providing exciting and engaging programming for schools and leisure visitors such as a Healthy Bodies interactive workshop for school groups. View LoveSport case study.

Netball South West

Netball South West (NSW) is responsible for the management participation and development of Netball in the South West Region. The organisation identifies and meets the needs of Netball players, coaches, umpires, and administrators and in doing so encourages the uptake of the sport. View NSW case study.

Events

Inclusion Works Out – Inclusive Fitness Week 2008

24-30 April 2008
The first ever Inclusive Fitness Week places the inclusive physical activity agenda firmly at the forefront of both fitness providers’ and disabled people’s minds, providing as many people as possible with the opportunity to try a new activity, embark upon a new fitness goal or simply to understand that exercise really can and should be for everyone. View press release.

Joint Equality South West and the Women’s National Commission event

30 April 2008 - Somerset County Cricket Club, Taunton
Visit www.equalitysouthwest.org.uk.

CP Sport - Multi Sports Development Day, Taunton

1 May 2008 (10.30am - 3pm) - Somerset County Cricket Ground, Taunton TA1 1JT
Download application form and poster

CCPR 36th National Conference 2008

7 May 2008 - Grange City Hotel, London
Playing To Win will challenge government and opinion formers as well as offering an insight into the key issues affecting the sector.  Download CCPR booking form

Planning

Mapping the Landscape - Sport Market Forecasts 2008-2012

As part of the 'Collaborating centre for sport and the economy' between Sport England and the Sport Industry Research Centre (SIRC), the latest edition of 'Sport Market Forecasts' will soon be published. This publication, a joint publication between Sport England and SIRC, outlines forecasts for the period 2008-2012. Key highlights are as follows:

- Over the years 2008-2012, the sport market will increase in real terms by 18%, reaching £27 billion in value;
- In 2007, the sport market increased by 3.1% in real terms reaching £21.1 billion in value;
- The sport clothing and footwear market remains the most dynamic market, expected to grow by 34% in real terms in the years 2008-2012.

For more information, contact SIRC or research@sportengland.org

Evaluating Impact - evidence of 'what works'

Everyday Swim is a national project piloting innovative approaches to get more people swimming and to find out 'what works' in getting more people into our pools. Everyday Swim is led by the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) and has investment of £3 Million from Sport England and over £1 Million from local partners. It is made up of eight local projects which form a national network and each project has a different focus. Read the April 2008 Everyday Swim newsletter.

Sport England Market Segmentation

Providers of sports facilities are working with Sport England and Experian Business Strategies to use market segmentation to gain a better understanding of their current membership profile. Clients have had each individual member on their customer database linked to a sporting segment. By exploring their current customer segment profile, sports providers can develop centre programmes which better meet the needs of existing customers. It also provides an analysis of the type of segments that centres are currently attracting and those that it is not attracting from the local community. This information can then be used to develop targeted marketing plans and attract new customers.

To undertake a customer profiling exercise, all you need is a database with full name and postcode address. Experian are then able to append a sporting segment at a very reasonable cost. To find out which customers you are currently attracting, and what you can do more to get new ones, contact Laura Clayton, Research Manager, laura.clayton@sportengland.org.

Active People Survey 2

Active People Survey 2 commenced in mid October 2007 and the second quarter of interviewing has been completed. Headline quarter-on-quarter results have recently been published. Comparing results from the first quarter of Active People Survey 1 (fieldwork period mid Oct 2005-mid Jan 2006) to the first quarter of Active People Survey 2 (fieldwork period mid Oct 2007-mid Jan 2008) shows that participation (3x30) amongst adults (age 16 and over) has increased from 19.0% to 19.7%. This is the equivalent of 359,000 additional adult participants. Click for more information on the quarterly results.

Social Trends 38

Established reference source, Social Trends draws together social and economic data from a wide range of government departments and other organisations. It paints a broad picture of UK society today, and how it has been changing. The Apr 08 release features information on sport particpation from the Active People Survey and volunteering. Link to full report and data.

Funding

SW Funding Advisor Networks

Download mid-Apr08-f1 funding bulletin containing information on national, regional, county and local funding opportunities. Click for more details and to register for bulletin updates.

Futurebuilders announces additional investment

The additional £65m investment is aimed at voluntary sector organisations taking on the management of statutory sector services including sport and leisure.

Futurebuilders is actively seeking applications from third sector organisations working across all public service areas who are looking to win contracts with statutory bodies such as local authorities, primary care trusts and learning and skills councils.

With the invitation to apply now extended to organisations working across all areas of public service delivery including sport, recreation and leisure, environmental projects, waste and recycling, legal aid and the arts, it is expected that there will be a significant increase in applications, and ultimately in third sector organisations delivering public services. View Futurebuilders press release.

Click for information on Bristol event (Monday 28 April 2008, venue: Jurys Hotel, Bristol, booking deadline: Thursday 24 April).

People's Millions SW

The Big Lottery Fund is giving community groups in the region the chance to win the public's support and share in up to £250,000 of Lottery good cause money. Five awards of up to £50,000 will be up for grabs to carry out projects that improve and enrich local communities. Organisations have until the 15 May 2008 to enter the contest. Visit www.peoplesmillions.org.uk