Sport England launches Sportivate
Hundreds of thousands of teenagers and young adults are to benefit from a new sports programme that aims to fulfil the legacy promise made by Seb Coe in Singapore in 2005 to ‘inspire young people to choose sport’.
Sportivate will give 14 to 25 year-olds the chance to receive six to eight weeks of coaching in a sport of their choice. Launched by Sport England on 14 June, the £32 million National Lottery-funded project will help those who aren’t currently playing sport in their own time to get out and give it a go. The programme aims to get 300,000 young people playing sport and offers the chance to win London 2012 tickets for those who remain regular participants.
As part of the Places People Play mass participation legacy programme, Sportivate will see 300,000 teenagers and young adults completing sports courses over four years.
Sport England’s Chief Executive, Jennie Price, said: “Lots of young people think sport isn’t for them. I would like them to have the chance to discover whether there is a sport they really enjoy, so this programme is all about choice. Everyone who takes part will receive high quality coaching – giving them the confidence and skills which will make them want to keep playing in the future.”
The announcement was welcomed by the Minister for Sport and the Olympics, Hugh Robertson MP, and Commonwealth Games medalist, Zoë Smith. Hugh Robertson said: “This £32 million Lottery programme launched by Sport England will give hundreds of thousands of teenagers and young adults across the country the opportunity to try out and get coached in the sport of their choice. I’m sure these same young people will also be inspired when the world’s greatest athletes compete here at next summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games and will then want to stay involved in sport for many years to come.”
Sportivate will be delivered by the network of 49 county sports partnerships who will work with local providers and sports clubs to help 14- to 25-year-olds to continue taking part long after they have completed their course.
To help inspire and motivate the participants, our Sporting Champions, a team of current and retired elite athletes, will visit Sportivate sessions to share their experiences and enthusiasm for sport. As an additional incentive, teenagers and young adults who stick with sport will have the chance to enter a ballot for free London 2012 tickets. Sport England has hundreds of Olympic and Paralympic tickets available for Sportivate participants via the London 2012 Ticketshare initiative.
In order to be eligible for London 2012 Ticketshare, participants will need to complete the sports course, missing no more than one session, and then continue to participate in sport for at least three months.
If a British Rowing club, school or university is interested in applying for Sportivate please contact your Regional Team Leader. Rowing’s priorities are as follows;
Club / School Links – 15+
British Rowing’s main priority for Sportivate is to support our Community Sports Coach Programme to increase 15+ participation. This should be achieved through water based activity at Clubmark accredited clubs that that have links to local schools and/or youth groups.
Higher Education – 18+
Universities that are working with BUCS and British Rowing to develop indoor rowing (Gold Challenge) and offer Learn to Row through “Explore Rowing” accredited clubs.
Indoor Rowing in schools and youth groups
Yr 9 boys and Yr 9, 11 and 12 girls. This meets British Rowing’s National Competition Framework priorities. We support schools that do not already have indoor rowing machines plus StreetGames and Clubs for Young People centres. Indoor rowing coaches must be British Rowing qualified.
Further Education – 16+
Colleges that are working with BCS & British Rowing to develop indoor rowing (Gold Challenge) and linked to “Explore Rowing” accredited clubs
For further information please contact your Regional Team Leader or Simon Dickie, British Rowing’s Youth and Community Manager.
