Summary Note

Policy Cabinet: Improving Sport and Leisure in Newcastle, Wednesday 8 February 2012 held at Newburn Activity Centre, Grange Road, Newburn, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Present:

Councillor Forbes (Chair)

Councillors Dunn, Kingsland, McCarty, Murison and Stephenson (Cabinet Members)

Councillor Faulkner (Opposition Observer)

Councillor Schofield (Deputy Cabinet Member)

John Bateman, Ian McGeorge (Newcastle Phoenix Cycle Club), Ian Beck (St Cuthbert’s family), Michael Bell (NGB), David Bell (Tyne Triathalon), Colin Blackburn (University Sports Centre), Sam Blake (Eagles Community Foundation), Anne Brown (Stepney Bank Stables), Matt Carter (RFU), Karen Chapman (City Gymnastics Academy), Beth Davidson (NGB), Karen Dearden (Sports Injury Clinic), Vika DeGiorgio (Raise the Bar), Malcolm Dix (Sport Newcastle), Simon Dobson (Tyne Rowing Club), Jo Drapier (Rugby Football League), Phil Eadon (Newcastle United Women’s FC), Julie Fenwick (Northumberland Hockey), Ian Gardiner (Amateur Swimming Assoc.), Denis Gray (Northumberland Badminton Assoc.), Peter Harrison (Cycling in the North East), Stewart Hibbert (Indoor Bowls), Susan Hunter (Eagles Community Foundation), Ruth Lawson (Evening Chronicle), Louise Little (Judo Champion), Simon Lunn (Benwell Hill Cricket Club), Ian McKluskie (Northumberland Badminton Club), David Newton (Nova International), Mary Nichols (Elders Council), Mark Oliver (Hat-Trick Project), Robin Peers (NGB), Colin Percy (Tyne Rowing Club), Judith Ramusden (Sport England), Stephen Rodwell (NGB Indoor Bowling Assoc.), Ian Simon (T&W Sport), Roberta Stocks (Eldon Bowls), Tony Taylor (NGB), Ben Thompson (NGB), Ian Thurlbeck (Sport England),Jean Wakeford (Newburn Judo Club), Ian Wardle (NGB), Anne Whittaker (Throckley Community Hall), Anne Wilkinson (X3), Representative (Newcastle United Foundation) and Two Representatives (Northumbria University).

John Collings, Philip Hunter, Andrew Lewis, Barry Rowland, David Slater, Ewen Weir, Anthony McKenna, Joe Laws, Sue Cummings, Julie Fenwick, Tony Durcan, Neil Ramshaw, Linda Couch (Newcastle City Council)


thinkabout – Improving Sport and Leisure in Newcastle

Councillor Forbes, the Leader of Council, welcomed everyone and explained that this was the next in a series of thinkabout Policy Cabinet meetings which would provide an opportunity to step back from day to day considerations and debate a particular issue, today’s theme being sport and leisure. He would be inviting a number of individuals to contribute to the discussion as well as opening up the debate. He asked that contributions be kept concise and to the point and indicated that the discussion wasn’t about making decisions, but about listening and understanding the challenges and opportunities available

A briefing paper had been circulated which provided background information to help inform and focus the discussion.

Councillor Murison made an introductory statement in which he referred to the impact of participating in sporting activities on an individual’s life chances. The Council contributed a lot to these issues. However; a major question to be addressed was that of reaching hard to reach groups and the most deprived areas to improve their health outcomes, whilst acknowledging that different areas of the city had different needs. The Council were not leading in this field but had many partnerships for example with Newcastle United Foundation and Newcastle Eagles Basketball. The important role played by volunteers was also recognised in terms of time commitment and facilities available for use. The impact of schools, the Olympics legacy, the regional perspective, importance of cultural impact and older people’s participation were other issues to explore. He thanked everyone for attending and welcomed the opportunity to learn from their experience.

Councillor Forbes then opened the discussion and the main issues raised are summarised below:-

Participation – what makes it successful?

·  A run of success, clear pathways, a sense of purpose and vision with parents and children buying – in and working towards an outcome.

·  Easy access to facilities, address the high hourly hire rates through lobbying for a national cap on the cost of hiring facilities.

What is the role of schools in provision for young people?

·  Young people want choice; undertake a survey of schools to establish their views; information on their views had been collected during the annual summer play provision in the outer-west (bouncing–on).

·  Children need a variety of options/choices – provide them with taster sessions, an example of an activity of choice was free-running.

·  Provide them with new experiences, competitive or recreational which will provide activity and exercise, an alternative to contact sports which not all children enjoy for example, rowing and new age bowling.

Media coverage of sporting activities regionally

·  It was recognised that we are a region of sporting high achievers. However, reporting of those achievements was very limited locally and not broad in terms of the sporting events reported upon generally, for example cycling championships and fencing.

·  Wider coverage would highlight a greater number of role models and advocates of different non-mainstream sporting activities.

·  There was an acknowledgment of a reducing number of reporters locally and that self reporting and submitting of copy by groups and individuals was becoming the norm.

·  There was a need to embrace whole family participation in sporting activities, looking for alternative approaches to engage them.

·  It was suggested that the high demand for football did provide funding support for alternative or new sporting activities.

·  Participation in physical activities, in particular for older people, provided a two-fold benefit as it also gave opportunities for social interaction.

Impact of Elite sporting activities?

·  Surveys had demonstrated that less than 7% of school children represented their school in sporting activities – influencing the content of physical education for the remainder was difficult. There was a need to address the Year 7 children’s views to impact on the major drop-off in participation at Year 9 – 16year olds.

·  Many facilities were block–booked for gymnastics and basketball providing little opportunity/scope to expand other activities.

Participation drop-off?

·  The focus for Sport England funding for the past 4 years had been the 16plus age group. The next four years would focus on the14 to 24 year group. There was a need to address the 16 plus drop-off by funding of exit routes and recognition of the media impact on take-up.

·  Badminton taster sessions in schools were well supported, the pathway from school supported activities to club activities needed greater parental support.

·  Did the drop-off reflect the overall change in society away from communal activities?

·  It was suggested that the drop-off at 16 plus reflected changes in life styles. There had been success in directing young people to leadership roles and coaching of younger age groups which provided a powerful access to work and university opportunities whilst also providing a transition for elite athletes.


What drives the individual to participate and volunteer?

·  A love of the sport from childhood continuing into working life.

·  Enjoyment of the sport and opportunities provided at school – the importance of individual teacher/ mentors was also highlighted.

·  Improved media coverage would impact on the take-up and the introduction of multi-sport clubs. For example men’s hockey, Holland had produced the best team in the world without the sport being taught to boys in school.

·  In relation to cricket, there was an extensive school partnership but there was a need to identify ways of supporting the volunteers who then took on responsibility.

Facilities – capacity issues?

·  There was availability of coaching and volunteers but no provision locally for ‘closed road’ cycling.

·  Lack of youth development opportunities for cycling following successful school’s programme of activities because of the lack of facilities other than in Manchester and Sunderland which results in drop-out at age 14 to15.

·  The lack of availability of resources/schools facilities in particular which were not available for use after 5pm.

·  High cost of travel for young people to access facilities across the city once school support is lost to them.

·  Availability of provision at the Universities to enable citizens access to those facilities - a representative of one of the Universities responded indicating that work was ongoing to challenge the perception that the facilities were not part of the wider community of sport and education.

The Executive Director of Children’s Services responded to comments raised during the discussion indicating that schools were constrained by the requirements of the National Curriculum in choices available to them and creativity around variety of sporting activities on offer. Some schools were also restricted contractually in their ability to make available facilities for public hire.

The Leader suggested that there appeared to be a mixed picture on the availability of facilities which would need further discussions between the providers and the sports clubs.

·  Spaces for activities were also available within Sheltered Housing schemes. Dance City, Age UK and walking groups all provided scope for activities with potential to expand.

·  It was suggested that there was a need to address basic physical skills, such as running and catching a ball, in primary schools to improve activity; older people have the ability to make their own choices.

·  Inclusion of employers’ sports club facilities and private sector facilities - they have a vested interest in the health of their employees.

·  Taking forward consideration of multi-sports clubs and by City Council and Sport Newcastle working perhaps with a Councillor Champion to link with Schools, employers and the local community.

·  An example was given of Sport England working with Nissan and BAE - a pilot working with the use of their facilities was underway.

·  The detrimental impact on the health of the elderly participants with the proposed closure of indoor bowls facility in the city was highlighted.

Was there sufficient acknowledgement of the contribution made by the Volunteers ?

·  A number of examples of award ceremonies/recognition – Sport Newcastle organised a regional ‘Unsung Heroes’ event, Hat Trick Street games association with Coca Cola, an individual volunteer receiving a national Volunteer of the Year award and another a Sports Coach of the Year award.

·  There was general recognition of the important contribution made by volunteers.

·  The achievements and impact of volunteers on a successful programme at Wingrove Primary School was highlighted.

·  Transport costs to participate in events were highlighted as a major barrier to participation. Overcoming the difficulties associated with insurance to enable shared use of schools vehicles would improve the position.

Councillor Murison highlighted work being undertaken to break down barriers to participation and particularly addressing the impact of reduced budgets, aiming to do more with less and addressing the challenges to increase participation and impact on those most affected in relation to the identified impact of health inequalities.

Councillor Forbes then brought the session to a close, thanking everyone for attending and contributing to the discussion. He now felt that he had a greater understanding of the issues involved. He thanked everyone for the work that they do, without the passion and commitment of the individuals involved, the city would be lacking in the richness and diversity from which it benefits.

In summary he highlighted:-

·  The need to improve reporting and broaden the available role models, changing perceptions and more about improving participation.

·  In relation to facilities, there needed to be further conversations around unlocking availability – how do we do more with less?

·  The impact of the Olympic legacy hadn’t been touched on during the discussion but he hoped it would impact on the promotion of increased participation, including the range of activities and use it to increase the connection and forge links between activities.

·  Transformational activities, ensuring that the city is better engaged with taking forward the issues.

He hoped people would take the opportunity to talk to each other and hoped that they had found the discussion useful.

(Started 4.35 pm - ended 6pm)