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Sports Council Scores For Disadvantaged Areas With �2.4
Million Lottery Investment
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Community Sport Programme
The Sports Council for Northern Ireland, in partnership with the Big Lottery
Fund, today announced a planned investment of �2.4m for disadvantaged areas and
under-represented groups through the launch of the Community Sport Programme.
To date 20 organisations from across Northern Ireland have been successful in
securing between �30,000 and �129,000 through the Community Sport Programme.
Each organisation is now in a position to recruit a Community Sports Development
Officer, on a full or part time basis, to plan and deliver a range of activities
that meet local needs.
This strand is the first element of the Big Lottery Fund�s Community Sport
programme. The second element, Active Lifestyles, is worth �2.1 million and was
launched last September.
Ultimately, each project, although unique to its own community, aims to use
sport and physical activity to achieve a number of outcomes namely:
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increased in levels of participation;
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improved health, fitness and well being;
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increased self-esteem and confidence; and�
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enhanced social cohesion leading to improved levels of social capital.
Research has shown that participation in sport and physical activity varies
significantly between different groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas and
by certain sections of the community; including older people, people with
disabilities, ethnic minorities and other under represented groups. This
research has also shown that increasing levels of participation in appropriate
sport and physical activity can contribute to the outcomes of the programme.
Research on community focused sport by the University of Edinburgh, concludes
�Where sport projects provide a contribution to wider aspects of the community,
they are more likely to be sustainable.�1
Pilot Initiative
Realising the benefits of community participation, the Sports Council, with the
financial support of Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Reform Plan Funds,
initiated a �pilot� Community Sport Programme investing �600,000 in the most
deprived wards (according to Noble Index), within five district council�s as
well as one of Northern Ireland�s most under-represented groups � people with
disabilities.
The main focus of the �pilot� programme was the appointment of eight Community
Sport Development Officers, each of whom has designed a programme unique to its
community�s needs.
An example of this is the TRIAX area of Derry. Thomas McCallion a Community
Sport Development Officer employed by Derry City Council, but whose post is
funded by the pilot Community Sport Programme, has in partnership with
Brandywell and Bogside Health Forum and the Old Library Trust (as part of the
DSD Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy: People and Place), designed an innovative
schools participation programme which is aimed at improving the health and
well-being of children and young people, which include walking and healthy
eating.
Thomas McCallion stated that the community has embraced the programme:
"I am happy to say that the school principals and teachers have taken the
idea on board with great enthusiasm. The benefit of the school's initiative is
simple: it is the combination of physical health development with improved
health educational awareness."
Extension of the Pilot
The extension of Programme, supported through the Big Lottery Fund has made a
total of 20 awards to organisations targeting the top 25% of Northern Ireland�s
most deprived electoral wards (according to Noble Multiple Index of Deprivation)
and/or under-represented groups, such older people, people with disabilities.
Professor Eric Saunders OBE, Chairman of the Sports Council commented:
�This investment by ourselves and our partners in the Big Lottery Fund is a
major contribution in tackling social injustice and inequalities. The programme
demonstrates the ability of sport to heal divided communities, improve health
and well-being and lift those most disadvantaged out of the poverty of
aspiration.�
Table 1 below provides details of those organisations funded by the Community
Sport Programme.
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� Table1
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District Council |
Organisations |
Wards |
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Belfast City Council
Derry City Council
Newry and Mourne District
Council
Lisburn City Council
Coleraine Borough Council
Fermanagh Borough Council
Craigavon Borough Council |
Age Concern Northern Ireland |
Northern Ireland wide remit. |
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Ballymoney Borough Council
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Ballymoney Borough Council |
Newhill, Ballyhoe and Corkey, Route, Carnany,
Benvardin, Cloghmills, Dunloy, Killoquin (upper and lower), Knockaholet,
Stranocum and The Vow. |
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Belfast City Council
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Clarendon Development Association |
Crumlin, St Annes, Woodvale, Shankill,
Ardoyne, Glencairn, Highfield and Ballysillan. |
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Greater Village Regeneration Trust (GVRT) |
Blackstaff and Shaftesbury (Neighbourhood
Renewal). |
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Lagan Watersports Ltd |
St Anne's, Ballymacarret, The Mount,
Shaftsbury, Woodstock, Blackstaff, Island, Botanic and Bloomfield. |
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Lower Ormeau Residents� Action Group |
Specific areas in Botantic and Shaftesbury
wards, Donegall Pass, Markets and Lower Ormeau Road. |
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North Belfast Play Forum |
Crumlin, St Anne�s, New Lodge, Ardoyne,
Waterworks, Duncairn. |
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Playboard |
Waterworks, Cliftonville, Cavehill, Duncairn
and Ardoyne. |
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Castlereagh Borough Council |
Castlereagh Borough Council |
Enler, Tullycarnet, Cregagh and Beechill. |
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Coleraine Borough Council |
Coleraine Borough Council |
Ballysally, Churchland, Cross Glebe, Agivey,
Atlantic, Central Dunluce, Garvagh, Mountsandel, Ringsend, Royal Portrush
and The Cuts. |
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Craigavon Borough Council |
Brownlow Campus Sports Trust |
Court, Drumgask, Drumgor, Corcrain,
Tullygally, Drumnamoe, (Neighbourhood Renewal) |
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Craigavon Borough Council |
Court, Drumgask, Drumgask, Drumgor, Corcrain,
Tullygally, Drumnahoe and Ballyoran. |
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Derry City Council |
Derry City Council |
Waterside and Victoria (Neighbourhood
Renewal) |
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Derry City Council |
East and West Chantallow and Carnhill
(Neighbourhood Renewal) |
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Derry Healthy Cities |
Brandywell/Creggan South & St Peters (Derry),
East, Castlederg (Strabane), Binevenagh and Coolessan (Limavady). |
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Down District Council |
Down Sports Association |
Flying Horse (also known as Ballymore) and
Cath. |
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Larne District Council |
Larne District Council |
Antville, Ballyoran, Seacourt, Central and
Craigyhill. |
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Newry and Mourne District Council |
Newry and Mourne Carers limited |
Ballybot, Besbrook, Camlough, Creggan,
Crossmaglen, Daisey Hill, Derrymore, Drumgullion, Newtownhamilton, Silver
Bridge, St Mary�s and St Patrick�s. |
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Omagh District Council |
Youth Sport Omagh Ltd |
Beragh, Camowen, Clanabogan, Dergmoney,
Drumnakilly, Drumquin, Faitywater, Fintona, Gortin, Gortrush, Killyclogher,
Lisnawlly, Newtownsaville, Owen Killew, Sixmilecross, Termon and Trillick. |
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Strabane District Council |
Strabane District Council |
Strabane District � Castlederg, Clare,
Dunnamanagh, East, Glenderg, Newtownsteward, Plunbridge, Sion Mills, South,
Victoris Bridge and West. |
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If you require any further information regarding
the Community Sport Programme announcement, please contact Joan Grenville at
Fire IMC
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Notes To editors
This Community Sport programme has been funded by
the Big Lottery Fund, the joint operating name of the New Opportunities Fund and
the National Lottery Charities Board (which made grants under the name of the
Community Fund). The Big Lottery Fund, launched on 1st June 2004, is
distributing half of all National Lottery good cause funding across the UK.
Details of the Big Lottery Fund�s programmes, including Active Lifestyles, and
grant awards are available at:
www.biglotteryfund.org.uk .
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Realising the Potential of Cultural Services: The Case for Sport, by Fred
Coalter, Centre for Leisure
Research
at the University of Edinburgh, November 2001
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