It’s local people who are the most valuable resource in shaping successful activity. Key to success will be building partnerships with them and harnessing their knowledge of the environment, culture and challenges of the area they live in.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
- We want to hear from local partners and organisations who work collectively to make up the ‘system’ and aspire to improve local communities. They will be clear on the role sport and physical activity can play towards broader social outcomes such as personal and community development.
- We expect to work with Public Health England, other government departments and Lottery distributors to identify the right locations to work in – and to work alongside us to deliver the pilots.
- We would like to look at – and potentially work with – the whole of the sport infrastructure in an area, not just that provided by the public or third sector. For example, if you're able to work with facilities such as local professional clubs and other commercial providers, we’d be really interested to hear from you.
- We particularly welcome groups of organisations or consortia with an appetite for change and a thirst to get more people taking part, and groups who can help achieve this. It’s important to recognise that what we call the ‘supply side’ of sport can broaden and evolve.
- We’re looking to fund pilot projects in both urban and rural areas, covering different parts of England. We think the right partners working together will best define the size of the pilot area – but we don’t anticipate supporting pilots that focus on very small areas such as an individual street. Nor will we fund larger ‘regions’, such as the whole of the South West of England, as it would be much harder to draw together the whole system over such a wide area
- We’re not asking for official bids at this stage – more a description of the partners who would be involved, how you’ve worked together, your place and its people.
HOW WILL IT WORK?
In December, we’re going to invite expressions of interest to become one of our pilot projects. To help we’ll invite you to a working session in January or February 2017 to explore with you the people and places you’re thinking about.
By March 2017, we will have chosen three or four pilots to go forward immediately – and potentially a further 10 which will need further development during 2017.
The first funding awards will be made soon after that.
WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACHIEVE?
There are several goals we’re trying to achieve through these pilots. Firstly, we want to help the community sport system work better in the geographical area, changing the way sport and physical activity is offered to make it a much better experience for the customer.