Published at 11:08, Thursday, 26 April 2012

IN THE run-up to the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games, a number of initiatives have been launched to help increase participation in sport as part of Sport England’s Places People Play strategy. Here is an outline of just some of the activities taking place in Cumbria delivered or facilitated by Active Cumbria:

SPORTIVATE

THIS provides six weekly coached sessions and encourages teenagers and young adults (14-25) to continue in sport. In Cumbria more than 1,250 people have been engaged in this programme so far and this is expected to more than double by the end of 2012.

www.sportengland.org

SPORT MAKERS

THIS programme looks to attract people to inspire their friends, family and colleagues to take part in sport. It can be anything from booking a court for No Strings Badminton to arranging football in a local park, committing a work team to a cycling challenge or volunteering to promote a local race.

We have will be holding more workshops in May.

www.sportmakers.co.uk

GOLD CHALLENGE

AIMS to help people raise money for a charity of their choice while discovering a wide range of sports available. 2012 Challenge is looking for individuals or teams to achieve aggregate distance of 2012km or just do 2012 minutes of one or more out of running, swimming, cycling, walking, rowing, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing or horse-riding.

www. goldchallenge.org

INSPIRED FACILITIES

LAUNCHED by Sport England, this funding programme will invest in up to 1,000 local community sports clubs across the country. The aim is to make it easier for local community and volunteer groups to improve and refurbish sports clubs or transform non-sporting venues into modern grassroots sport facilities.

Sport England is keen to invest in more projects in Cumbria. They have organised two free and informal workshops in May to help explain how you could apply to upgrade or improve a community sports club or local facilities.

www.activecumbria.org

PROTECTING PLAYING FIELDS

THIS is investing £10million of Lottery funding in community sports projects over three years from 2011-2014. Sport England intends to fund up to 300 projects for playing field improvements that will contribute to both retaining and increasing participants in sport across England at the local level.

www.sportengland.org

RUN LEADERS

ACTIVE Cumbria is working with Run England looking for running enthusiasts to establish a network of new beginner running groups across Cumbria. The programme offers a safe, fun and supportive way to take those first steps to becoming more active more often.

www.activecumbria.org/runleaders

COMMUNITY GAMES

IN Cumbria this will be coordinated by Active Cumbria, who will provide support, resources and funding opportunities for communities to organise their own local sporting and cultural events in celebration of London 2012 Games. The events can be anything from a triathlon or a sponsored walk to a live concert, and will reflect the interests and needs of the local community.

www.communitygames.org.uk

CUMBRIA SCHOOL GAMES

THIS will give hundreds of young athletes the chance to come together and take part in three events as part of the Cumbria School Games. The three Cumbria School Games County Festivals will involve children from all six districts in Cumbria.

www.yourschoolgames.com

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk