City of York Athletics Club – York School Sports Network

Development plan

March 2017 to February 2020

Objectives

The aim of this development plan is twofold:

  1. Increase the number of young people taking part in active sport, in particular athletics
  2. Raise the profile and awareness of the City of York Athletic Club

Primary School Development plan

After School Club Programme

A minimum of 35 schools will receive a 6 week after school athletics club plus 2 sessions held at the community club. Pupils will be charged £10 for the full 8 weeks.

Monitoring will include:

  • Number of pupils who attended the sessions.
  • Footfall
  • Number of pupils who attend the 2 weeks at the community club
  • Number of pupils who remain at the club in week 15 of the programme.

This programme is to be delivered by an active volunteer with the City of York Athletic Club, with the necessary key skills and experience. This is essential to maintain and improve the school/club links. There may be opportunity to also use this programme to help develop new coaches, but again these will be active volunteers with the City of York Athletic Club. The coaches chosen to deliver these sessions must be agreed IN ADVANCE by both the YSSN and the Athletic Club.

Talent identification and development

The coach delivering the sessions will complete Quad Kids challenges with pupils in year 1 -6. The scores can be shared with the athletics club, and we can promote gifted and talented opportunities to the G and T pupils and specifically signpost them to the club, perhaps through a direct letter to parents.This is intended to raise the profile of athletics and, if successful, may transcend simply athletics interest groups into other youth groups and workplaces. This sits very comfortably with the City of York Athletic Club’s vision of community.

Annual ‘themed’ athletics competitions at the Athletics Stadium

The content of this cannot be prescriptive as each year it may be different but the event should have at its core;

  • A ‘community’ feel
  • An emphasis on participation
  • Access by all abilities, all ages and all schools
  • An element of fun as well as competition

Club/School Links

The main deliverer of the programme will attend the Club on Wednesday and Friday evenings. This will total a maximum of three hours each week. This is an essential part of the programme as it facilitates the smooth transition from the school sessions to the athletics club for both athletes and parents/carers alike. This investment is to try and maximise the retention rates as well as to recruit more volunteers to help support the infrastructure. Duties will be varied and agreed by the club but will focus on;

  • Introduction of new athletes to the Club
  • Signposting new athletes to the appropriate coach
  • Wellbeing and awareness of code of conducts for new athletes
  • First point of call for queries from athletes, young coaches and parents/carers on club nights
  • Talking to athletes/carers in the stand and recruiting volunteers

Financial Mechanism

The Club will commit to an annual grant of £7,500 per annum to support this programme for an initial period of three years. YSSN will commit to try and leverage additional grant funding wherever possible, for example small grants, and whilst maximising income direct from schools sessions, ensure that no individual or school is excluded from benefitting from this programme on financial grounds. Inclusivity and availability to all is a key value that underpins this programme.

Attendance at club evenings attracts remuneration of £15 per hour, inclusive of all costs and expenses. Direct delivery of the programme by coaches will attract a market rate per hour as recommended by the YSSN and agreed by the Club. For 2014 this has been set at £20 per hour, inclusive of all costs and expenses.

Robust accounts will be maintained by YSSN and a basic set of annual accounts prepared. These will be available to the Club. It is expected that appropriate prime records will be held to support these accounts, for example payment in respect of club sessions will be evidenced by a simple timesheet signed by a committee member of the club authorising payment.

Should the grant be insufficient to deliver the annual programme both the YSSN and Club will work together to identify the potential for additional financial support. Should monies not be fully expended in the year they will be rolled forward and the YSSN and Club will review the programme to identify new opportunities for community activity. Similarly, if either the YSSN or Club identify potential new areas of activity outside of this programme during any given year this may be added with the agreement of both parties and the funding being available.

Reporting Mechanism

This is essential in demonstrating the successful delivery of the programme and will be used to quantify the added value achieved for all stakeholders. The YSSN will report each term to all relevant stakeholders on the following areas and key outcomes;

  • Latest financial position
  • Detailing monies committed against grant
  • Detailed analysis of performance;
  • Schools programmed/visited as a % of target
  • Number of pupils who attended the sessions.
  • Number of pupils who attend the 2 weeks at the community club
  • Number of pupils who remain at the club in week 15 of the programme
  • Number of signposted gifted & talented athletes
  • Number of gifted & talented athletes who remain at the club for 15 weeks
  • Number of new parent/carer volunteers

Outcomes

There will be many positive outcomes captured from this programme and these will be constantly monitored by the YSSN and the Club. Initial outcomes expected include;

  • Raise the profile of athletics, and the benefits of active sport, in York and near neighbours
  • Positive and healthy impact on over 2,500 young people per year
  • Increased number of ‘longer term’ participants in athletics each year
  • Signposting of gifted and talented athletes
  • Increased number of local competition outlets to encourage participation for all ages and abilities
  • Additional volunteers to help the Club from parents/carers

Agreement & Signatures

We agree to fulfil the terms of this three year grant agreement

YSSN
City of York Athletic Club
Date

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