Portsmouth and Southampton Children to Benefit from Free Sports
Children to benefit from The Community Sports Foundations drive to bring communities closer together and reduce levels of crime, anti social behaviour and poor health
The Foundation, chaired by former Southampton FC Academy Manager Huw Jennings and supported by Southampton resident and 400m runner record-holder Iwan Thomas MBE, has stepped in to help fill the gap left by the 162m cut to the school sports budget. Following the Comprehensive Spending Review, The Community Sports Foundation (TCSF) has spoken with 28 schools in the Solent area of Portsmouth to offer each of them a minimum of half a terms free sports coaching, use of equipment and expert support in childrens fitness and sports engagement.
Seven schools have already jumped at the chance and the programme will be rolled out across the wider areas of Portsmouth and Southampton if it proves successful. While at the Southampton FC Academy, Huw Jennings was responsible for nuturing such famous talent as Theo Walcott, so who knows what this latest venture may achieve.
Experts have voiced fears that the recent cuts will have a serious impact on the health of UK children and that the promised 2012 legacy is now in jeopardy. In response, TCSF has invited schools from the Portsmouth City Council Register to create their own, 'Big Society' and share coaches and various sports facilities, to boost the resources they have access to. The Foundation has also offered a minimum of a half a term of free sports coaching for each school and is aiming to provide a full term if logistics allow.
'We are delighted with the initial response to our offer,' said Joseph Noble, CEO of The Community Sports Foundation, 'The uptake so far has been fantastic, although I'm not sure why I'm surprised. There is a genuine need for improved sporting facilities for schools and communities across the country. We've run similar, successful schemes in other parts of the South and are hoping to secure enough financial support to extend our reach to other parts of the country'.
Former MP and Rugby International Derek Wyatt, Trustee of The Community Sports Foundation commented: 'George Osborne's drastic cuts to the school sports fund are cause for great concern. Levels of fitness in children and young people are at an all-time low, it's an embarrassment that the host nation of the next Olympics is diverting its attention away from the matter. Charities such as The Community Sports Foundation help to bridge the gap but rely so heavily on public donations and corporate sponsorship that the full ramifications of the Spending Review will not be known until the we actually see how the economy absorbs the shock.'
TCSF supplies qualified coaches, sporting initiatives and quality sports coaching and leadership training to benefit able-bodied and disabled children, young people and communities in poor health or disadvantaged areas. Those that receive TCSF support also benefit from carefully planned programmes of activity and ongoing monitoring to ensure an effective, positive impact.
The charity has already established a network of partners and the Foundation's coaching network delivers sports coaching to over 50,000 children every week and has consulted with more than 150 schools.
To learn more or to register your school for a place on the Foundations Solent School Sports Initiative please email: solentschoolsports@tcsf.org.uk or call 0203 346 3064.
