Sport England Newsletter 'The Pitch' - Issued
December 2010
the
latest
from
the
pitch
Dec
2010
Sport
England
|
Creating
sporting
opportunities
in
every
community
Cycling and running boom shows appetite for sports participation
Netball on the up in latest sports participation statistics
New participation figures paint a mixed picture of progress in grassroots sport, with strong growth in running and cycling but a drop in numbers for other major sports.
Overall, the slow but steady increase in participation numbers seen over the past five years continues, with 6,938,000 people now taking part in sport at least three times a week.
The BBC Sports Unsung Hero for 2010 today revealed how Sport England’s Sportsmatch fund is helping him do even more sporting good in his local community.
Lance Haggith, who picked up the prestigious BBC award on Sunday, received £10,000 from Sportsmatch for Bounceback - a project that uses basketball to steer young offenders and young people from low income areas away from gang culture, drugs, alcohol and vandalism and into sport.
Into the limelight – Lance Haggith picks up his award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Picture credit: BBC/Guy Levy.
Playing field safeguards working
Research from Sport England shows that 95% of all planning applications affecting a sports playing field in 2008/09 resulted in the places where people play sport being improved or safeguarded.
Sport England objects to all applications unless the developer can prove it will improve or safeguard sports provision.