The new partnership is being piloted to create an exciting new programme through the Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust (DCLT) in partnership with Club Doncaster Foundation. The project entitled ‘Doncaster Moving Together’ will work to increase the number of people playing sport by 300 local people and improve the health of those aged 35-55 in the town. Together they have been awarded £15,000 of Sport England National Lottery funding to pilot the project, which if successful could be rolled out nationally.
Club Doncaster is the foundation linking together Doncaster Rovers Football Club and Doncaster Rugby League FC, and DCLT is a charity delivering leisure and culture provision across 12 sites.
Led by Club Doncaster coaches, the project will offer badminton, cricket and football, initially in an informal, fun and non-competitive environment before creating mini-leagues and cross-site competitions across four venues. In order to feel part of the project and the club, participants will be recruited through social media platforms, Doncaster Rovers FC fan base, and match day awareness sessions, including player visits and physical activity incentives.
Craig Aubrey, DCLT’s Community Sports Officer, commented: "DCLT are excited to work with Sporta, The Football League Trust and Club Doncaster on this new project. We believe this project will help kick start the health of many in Doncaster, using all four partners to ensure the quality and sustainability of the initiative. As a charitable trust with Doncaster's health at heart, we believe this complements many of the other programmes we deliver, and we look forward to its success."
“Club Doncaster are delighted to be partnering with DCLT to deliver an inspiring and motivating programme to adults to encourage them to get active. We take great pride in becoming the pilot programme for Sporta along with The Football League Trust. Our high quality programme will offer an opportunity for local people to take part in a range of activities to lead to a positive change in their lifestyle,” said Gareth Cook, Club Doncaster Community Participation Manager.
The project is part of Sporta’s three-year Make Your Move programme which has seen over 30 charitable leisure trusts across England benefit from £2 million of National Lottery funding from Sport England. Sporta members can apply for up to £50,000, which they must match fund.
Hannah Bladen, Sport England’s Strategic Lead for Local Delivery said: “The investment in this new partnership with the Football League Trust through Sporta’s Make Your Move programme will reach new communities and create more opportunity for getting inactive people to become more active.
“What we learn locally in Doncaster we would hope to replicate in other places to get as many people active and playing sport as possible.”
Sporta’s CEO, Brian Leonard commented: “This new project in Doncaster shows the great ability and enthusiasm of local trusts and charities to help more people in their communities become more active. DCLT and Club Doncaster have come forward with an imaginative proposal, thanks to a positive relationship created nationally between Sporta and The Football League Trust”
Mike Evans, Director of Operations at the Football League Trust, said, “Football inspires passion in many people which enables us to engage with hard to reach groups - together our community Trusts engage with over 1.5 million people each year. Working with Sporta and its network of Culture and Leisure Trust is a really significant collaboration which creates the opportunity to improve the health of thousands of people.”
A third round of funding will be allocated early in 2015. Anyone wishing to apply should contact categillingwater@sporta.org. Further information on the programme can be found on the Make Your Move website or tweet @sportaUK #makeyrmove.