22 Febuary 2008
Sport England puts Wealden on the move
A group of local organisations, co-ordinated by Wealden District Council, has secured a massive boost to improve sporting activities for young people, families and adults in work places during the next three years.
Sport England is to provide £46,887 from its Community Investment Fund to support a series of activities through the Wealden On The Move initiative to encourage specific groups to become more healthy and active through sport.
Teenage girls, who often lose interest in mainstream sporting activities as they get older, will be encouraged to become involved in alternative fitness activities such as street dance, aerobics, or cheerleading.
Adults will have the chance to try out short courses of yoga and fitness classes designed to fit in with the working day, organised by Wealden District Council’s leisure partner, Freedom Leisure.
A Community Sports Festival is planned to encourage adults and young people to take up activities and enjoy taster sessions of various events through local sports clubs. The first Community Sports Festival will take place at Uckfield, alongside this year’s Festival in July and may feature a fun run and triathlon. Other towns will become involved in subsequent years.
“With so many headlines talking about obesity, binge drinking and anti social behaviour, particularly among the young, we need to remember that taking part in sport can have tremendous benefits, not just for our health, but in the way people behave,” said Councillor Sylvia Tidy, Cabinet member for Community Development. “I’m excited by the prospects opened up for Wealden by Sport England’s support and I would like to thank the Wealden officers and representatives of other groups that have worked hard to secure this funding.”
“Providing sports activities is something we ought to take seriously. Sport helps make for communities that stick together and has a part to play in improving life for young and old alike. “
Wealden’s £46,887 grant success follows on from a £237,000 award from the Big Lottery Children Play Initiative to set up a mobile play project for the District.
Wealden District Council acts as the co-ordinator for the Wealden Community Sports and Leisure Network which developed this project. The main partners involved are Freedom Leisure, Hailsham Community College, Beacon Community College, Volunteer Connections and representatives from local sports clubs, festivals and the Primary Care Trust.
Wealden On the Move will also include opportunities for people with disabilities and by putting together sports events aimed at the wider members of the community, will provide a great curtain raiser to the 2012 Olympic Games.
If your organisation, business or sport club would like to find out more about Wealden On the Move, please contact Wealden’s Cultural Services Officer Diana Carlick on 01892 602879 or email diana.carlick@wealden.gov.uk
