The best is yet to be*

Photo: Minister of Sport Gerry Sutcliffe (right) officially opens Taunton Vale Hub Club

"We welcomed the Minister of Sport, Gerry Sutcliffe to the Region last week when he officially opened the Taunton Vale Hub Club in Somerset for us. This is a fantastic facility for the local community and an exemplar of good practice of our hub club concept. You can view a video of the opening and facilities on ITV Local. The project was taken from concept to reality by Somerset Sport and Activity Partnership’s Director Colin Johnson – well done Colin, it is certainly worth all the hard work.

"We continue to make good progress in this transitional year towards the delivery of Sport England Strategy 2008–2011. Following completion of a period of staff consultation, I can now share with you the new regional structure. Recruitment will start next month and will conclude by the end of January 2009. Regional staff look forward to working with partners in a focused way to support the delivery of NGB priorities in the region and the delivery of important LAA work.

"Following the public consultation on Sport England lottery funding the Community Investment Fund (CIF) is closing and will be replaced by new Sport England Funding programmes designed to support the delivery of Sport England’s new strategy 2008–2011 "Grow, Sustain, Excel".

The announcement on the closure of CIF to new applications was made on 14 October 2008. Sport England will continue to accept CIF applications up to and including 6 January 2009. However, it is possible that the region may have to close to new applications earlier than this date if its remaining allocation of funds is fully committed to projects within the grant system. Please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions document if you are
– considering making a new application;
– are already in the system or
– are an awarded project.
It also contains brief information on the new funding opportunities available from next year.

"This edition will be the last Regional newsletter for the South West and we hope you have found it useful, informative and timely. A special thanks to Jason Lyons, our Regional Communications Manager, and John Bolton who edit and produce the newsletter content each month. Further updates and news alerts will come in the form of a newsletter called the "Latest from the Pitch". All current newsletter recipients will automatically receive this from next month.

Yours in Sport

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

* Robert Browning

Facilities

Minister opens Taunton Vale Hub Club

Photo: Netball session at the Regional Centre

The Minister for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe officially opened the Taunton Vale Hub Club on 21 October 2008 (view ITV Local video). The project was funded by CCDP, CIF (SW Region), Football Foundation and Viridor Credits (a landfill company). Our £250,000 investment further develops the multi sport aspects of the regional plan for sport.

The facility includes 3 outdoor netball courts marked out also for tennis, a covered netball court and a 3G artificial grass 7-a-side football and hockey practice pitch.

The newly built Regional Netball Centre provides a high quality environment for schools, leagues, clubs and tournaments.

Much credit must be given to Colin Johnson and his team from Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership for their hard work and commitment bringing the project through to fruition. For more information on Taunton Vale Sports Club or to make a booking, please call 01823 252225.

Building Schools for the Future PE & Sport Briefing

Sixty delegates from the South West attended Sport England’s "Building Schools for the Future (BSF) PE & Sport Briefing" event at Plymouth Pavilions on Tuesday 14 October 2008. The aim of the event was to give an up to date picture of where PE and Sport (curriculum and wider community) is within the BSF programme. BSF is likely to impact the South West region very shortly as local authorities have been asked to submit expressions of interest to join the programme.

Our thanks go to the speakers for their informative and thought provoking presentations (follow the links to download available powerpoint presentations):
– Mark Perkins (Partnerships for Schools),
– James Coulton (Plymouth City Council),
– Dave Stubley (Rugby Football Union),
– Annetta Minard (Oakmead Technology College, Bournemouth) – pdf format,
– Steve Kibble (Devon County Council),
– Bob Sharples (Sport England),
– Colleen Bevan (Bristol City Council) and
– Paul Walker (Penryn Community College).

Find out more about BSF.

Reminder – Free swimming capital modernisation programme

View prospectus with timelines agreed with DCMS.

More on free swimming on our website

Towards 2012

Play your part – help the South West’s next generation of sporting heroes

Photo credit Action Images: Many Olympians such as Plymouth Diving’s Tom Daley (centre) have been recipients of SportsAid.

The nation celebrated the outstanding achievements of Team GB’s athletes at the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games. All thoughts now turn towards emulating this success in London. One of the key aims of hosting 2012 is to create a lasting legacy for sport in Britain – something that SportsAid can and will continue to support as it has done for the past 31 years, helping athletes achieve their potential.

Of the 19 Olympic Gold medals won by Team GB in Beijing, 18 of them were connected to athletes that had received support from SportsAid at the start of their careers. Each year SportsAid in the South West helps approximately 170 athletes who have undeniable talent, unquestionable determination and genuine potential to become Britain’s next generation of sporting heroes.

SportsAid South West is looking to build on support available for athletes by working in partnership with local businesses, Local Authorities, leisure providers and rotary clubs who share their values and passion for sport. In return you can directly support emerging athletes in your area, have the chance to meet them, promote your involvement with the next generation of sporting heroes and become part of the team that is supporting the future of British sport.

Find out how and visit www.sportsaid.org.uk.

Team Effort

The right structures are critical to fulfilling our vision of building a lasting legacy and we have developed the partnerships to make this a reality.

The South West of England Regional Development Agency (South West RDA) and Sport England South West were tasked by the Government and the London 2012 Organising Committee to establish the right networks through which all central communication and planning could take place. This led to the development of a fully dedicated and functioning South West England 2012 Directorate.

Regional engagement with the London 2012 Organising Committee takes place through the Nations and Regions Group, and through the South West RDA into the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The result is direct involvement – the South West’s voice is heard in London and first hand knowledge and involvement in national planning is secured.

Together with our partners we created Team South West, an innovative, responsive team who are working to ensure that we deliver real benefits from the Games. The role of Team South West is to:

"Maximise the business, sporting, cultural and social opportunities to deliver a lasting and discernible legacy from the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games."

There is a clear need for leadership and direction which will be provided by the South West England 2012 Directorate, but the task for delivery is much wider, which is why we urge you to check the strategy and progress updates from the partnerships below
– Team Cornwall
– Team Devon
– Team Dorset
– Team Gloucestershire
– Team Somerset
– Team West of England
– Team Wiltshire and Swindon

Funding

Community Investment Fund Closure and Transitional Arrangements

Following the announcement that the Community Investment Fund is closing, Sport England will continue to accept CIF applications up to and including 6 January 2009. However, it is possible that the region may have to close to new applications earlier than this date if its remaining allocation of funds is fully committed to projects within the grant system. Please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions document if you are – considering making a new application;
– are already in the system or
– are an awarded project.
It also contains brief information on the new funding opportunities available from 2009.

Sportsmatch – apply online

Make your donations go further, visit Sportsmatch website today.

View Sportsmatch case studies to inspire potential applicants.

Events

Creating a Nation of Active Women

24 November 2008 – Emirates Stadium, London

This is the essential event in the sporting calendar for anyone with an interest in getting more women involved in sport and exercise.

Hosted by the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF), the conference will build on last year’s ground-breaking event which drew widespread national attention to the crisis in women’s physical activity. This year will set out the solutions.

WSFF will present the first national strategy to create a nation of active women, drawing on expertise from a range of sectors, from retail, advertising and the media to leading domestic and international case studies in sport and exercise.

Speakers include:
– Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE, Paralympian Gold Medalist
– Dame Kelly Holmes CBE, Double Gold Olympic Medalist
– Margot Raggett, CEO, Lexis PR - Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty
– Kate Spicer, Freelance Journalist & Broadcaster, and Writer of Cycle Girl column in Sunday Times
– Donna de Varona, Olympic Gold Medalist, First President & Chairman of the Women’s Sports Foundation USA, Member of the IOC Women in Sport Commission
– Karen Rothery, Chief Executive, British Universities & Colleges Sport

Download WSFF Programme and Booking Form.