Memorandum submitted by the Corporation
of London
SPORT DEVELOPMENT
IN THE
CITY OF
LONDON
1. The sporting programme in the City is
enhanced by working in partnership with other organisations, and
the various facility providers in and around the City. Through
the Department of Community Services, the Corporation of London
aims to increase opportunities for participation, promote positive
attitudes towards physical activity and provide opportunities
enabling all participants at different levels to achieve their
full potential.
2. The Corporation's sports development
section co-ordinates a wide variety of sporting activities and
events throughout the year for all ages as well as managing the
Golden Lane Leisure Centre. The aim of the team is to develop
and promote sport and leisure opportunities for both residents
and the City's workforce at a variety of levels, increase community
development and remove any perceived barriers to participation.
The Corporation seeks to take a proactive approach to increasing
the provision of sports activity within the City area and encouraging
sport for all. Much of this is done through the Golden Lane Leisure
Centre.
3. Support and the organisation of established
competitions and events in the City is a priority. The team organise
a number of events throughout the year, some examples include
the 23 mile water station for the Flora London Marathon, a health
and fitness open day for the local health clubs to promote themselves
to City workers, and the "City Dip", an annual swimming
event in aid of the Lord Mayor's charity. The Corporation is also
instrumental in co-ordinating the City squad for the London Youth
Games (comprising 215 youngsters) and squads for the mini marathon.
More routine activities include learn to swim programmes for children
and youths aged between 18 months and 15 years, and for beginners
to club swimmers. The programmes are all delivered at the Golden
Lane Leisure Centre.
4. The Corporation also produces a Sports
Directory for City residents and workers. This is a comprehensive
guide to sporting activities in the City of London area and is
provided free of charge. The directory includes details about
facilities, clubs, programmes, sessions and courses. A few facilities
are also listed from outside the immediate City area which are
included because there may not be provision within the City of
London area or they are already extensively used by individuals
or teams within the City.
SPECIFIC INITIATIVES
5. The Corporation is involved in the Millwall
Community Scheme which provides professional, qualified coaches
who organise football activities on a number of the estates owned
by the Corporation to encourage young people to come along and
focus their energy into playing football. The programme specifically
targets hard to reach and vulnerable youngsters (mainly 6-14 year
olds) who want to but have little opportunity to engage in a positive
and proactive activity. The programme co-ordinated an inter estate
tournament which saw 90 young people from the estates involved
brought together to compete against each other in a friendly but
competitive way. As the scheme continues to progress, it is hoped
education courses will be introduced as well as health and drug
education courses in the local schools using football as the incentive
to encourage young people to participate and learn.
6. The Corporation also operates a School
Holiday programme run at the Golden Lane Leisure Centre during
every break in term (with the exclusion of Christmas). The Sports
Camp programme provides children aged between 8-14 years with
the opportunity to partake in various activities under the direction
of a qualified sports coach. Included in the scheme the children
are taken on a mystery day trip normally of a sporting nature,
past trips have included visits to indoor rock climbing centres,
ice skating, Arsenal Football Stadium and the Riverside Athletics
Track. The aim is to try and ensure that the programme is as varied
as possible utilising many different sports in order to maintain
the participant's interest and health.
7. Following the higher profile rugby has
received following the World Cup success in 2003, the Sports Development
Team is working in partnership with the Rugby Football Union to
offer children aged between 8-14 years the opportunity to try
rugby union for free on three of the Corporation owned housing
estates. The sessions are open to all residents and, following
its success last year, is due to restart this spring.
8. In addition to those initiatives listed
above, there is a wide range of other activities organised at
the Golden Lane Leisure Centre including a tennis programme for
adults and children of all abilities, and a programme of exercise
for ladies only on one of the estates which has a high Bengali
community as well as a girls only programme. This scheme has been
useful in providing an opportunity for integration between Bengali
and European women. A further programme is currently being developed
for under 11's aimed at tackling obesity and it is hoped this
scheme will engage 250 children and 150 families.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
9. The Sports Development Team is keen to
assist groups and organisations that want to improve or increase
the sporting opportunities on offer to the Community. To assist
with this, a Sports Grant Scheme has been developed aimed at providing
financial assistance in setting up a sports club or in order to
provide additional kit or equipment. A separate initiative aims
to provide financial help to those representing the City in a
sporting capacity at County, Regional, National or International
level to assist with associated costs such as travel, entry fees,
accommodation and additional equipment.
April 2005
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