SPAA Projects Harness Wigan's Passion for Sport

Nobody is more passionate about sport than the people of Wigan Borough. Wigan Sports Development, part of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, is helping to harness the unique sporting spirit of the borough residents by supporting volunteers to make a positive difference in their own communities.

A number of SPAA projects are now successfully taking shape across the borough and are all linked to the Trust�s vision to Get Wigan Active. These projects are also integral to the new SHAPE (Sport Health and Physical Education) strategy, adopted by a range of partners in the health, leisure, education and voluntary sectors, which aims to get more people of all ages and abilities physically active.

Coach Development Project

Thanks to �20,000 of SPAA funding, Wigan Sports Development Unit in partnership with the Wigan Borough Sports Council, are breaking down the financial barriers for sports coaches accessing coach education courses. The spiraling fees have dissuaded many coaches from gaining national governing body awards, but now coaches in Wigan can gain funding of up to �250 towards the costs of a course.

Coach Development Officer Mike Watson said 'The funding will make a significant impact across the Wigan Borough and reinforces our commitment to coach development.'

Full details of the Coach Development Project can be found on the Wigan Borough Sports Council website www.wbsc.org.uk

Community Hub Project

Wigan's SPAA also includes plans for a 'Community Hub' project working with the borough's sports clubs. This will provide an opportunity for clubs with premises to offer a more diverse range of sports and physical activity opportunities to attract new participants of all ages. Funds will support the delivery of taster sessions, and coaching courses for new sports coaches or activity instructors.

Community Coach and Events Delivery Officer Post

SPAA funding has been secured to appoint an Events Delivery Co-ordinator and 3 new Community Sports Coaches. The Co-ordinator will be responsible for leading a number of high-profile Sports Development events throughout the year. The Olympic Games will be used as a catalyst and inspirational tool to encourage more young people to take part in activities organised throughout the borough.

Working closely with the voluntary sector, young people will be supported to become members of sports clubs and move a step closer to taking part in lifelong participation in sport. The coaches will work in the most deprived wards of Wigan North, Wigan South and Hag Fold.

In partnership with Wigan Council�s Community Safety Team, they will be tackling issues of anti-social behaviour and youth nuisance through the expansion of the community delivery programme and by offering quality sports opportunities in partnership with alternative curriculum providers.

In addition, a part time community coach has been employed to deliver sport and physical activity targeting physically inactive teenage girls and working with the Wigan Council�s Pupil Referral Unit to support them in re-engaging pregnant teenagers and teenage mothers� interest with their academic studies.

For more information regarding any of the project please contact Lizzie Hendley on 01942 404 995.