Active Cumbria, part of Cumbria County Council’s Public Health Team are bridging the gap between school and community sport and activity with an extension to their satellite club programme.
The local Active Partnership have been tasked by Sport England to develop the existing network with additional funding available to secure a range of clubs across Cumbria between 31st January 2020 and 31st March 2021. The programme targets young people aged 14 to 19 who aren’t already active – particularly those who are in groups typically under-represented in sport.
The satellite club local delivery funding can be used to seed-fund new and innovative interventions that help young people to be more active. Active Cumbria welcome applications from:
- Providers located within or offering services in lower income areas in Allerdale, Barrow in Furness and Copeland.
- Providers from across Cumbria delivering female only sport or activity sessions.
- Providers from across Cumbria delivering disability sport or physical activity.
Active Cumbria have an existing network of satellite clubs across the county engaging young people aged from 11 to 25 in sport and physical activity. These clubs operate from secondary schools, youth clubs and other community settings where young people are.
Over the last two years there has been a strong emphasis through the satellite club programme on engaging females aged 14 to 19 in physical activity, with local and national data showing that engagement in sport physical activity dramatically declines when girls reach 14. Active Cumbria have worked in partnership with Together We in Workington and iCan Health & Fitness in Carlisle to develop a network of girl’s dance & fitness satellite clubs across North and West Cumbria. These clubs are for girls who don’t like sport and instead, they engage them in a physical activity of their choice, at a time and location of their convenience, with the girls being offered Moky fit, Zumba, yoga, rebound classes, mindfulness and seated exercises as part of the offer.
Disability has also been a focus, with a number of boccia, pan-disability football, and wheelchair basketball clubs established. In addition two adaptive cycling satellite clubs have been set up in Whitehaven and Ulverston which have proved really popular with young people from Mayfield, Sandside Lodge and George Hastwell special schools, giving them access to a range of specialist bikes in a safe environment to get active.
Funding has also enabled a number of well-run traditional sports clubs to establish satellite clubs in schools and youth settings, clubs have adapted their delivery format with a focus on having fun and engaging in physical activity in a local friendly setting to meet the young people needs, with sports such as table tennis, girls rugby and dodgeball being supported through the satellite club programme.
To find out more about the satellite club programme or to discuss your idea please contact Russell Maddams from Active Cumbria on 07825 340 312 or by email at [email protected]
Find out more: https://www.activecumbria.org/satelliteclubs
