Teignbridge receives sports funding boost
People living in an area of Teignmouth will benefit from a new and exciting health and fitness project thanks to £142,500 of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Community Sport Activation Fund.
Teignbridge District Council is among 88 projects to receive a share of £15 million of funding to support grassroots sport activity across the country.
The Sports Bug project focuses on the Teignmouth West Ward and is all about creating more sport sessions – both traditional and non-traditional – as well as better access to health advice for people aged 14 and over.
The innovative project was set up by Teignbridge in response to a need for more community sports activities to improve health and wellbeing. The funding will allow Sports Bug to hold new activities and regular sport sessions for the next three years.
There will be a huge range of opportunities on offer, ranging from street dance and free running to more traditional sports like badminton and social activities like tea dances. The beauty of Sports Bug is there will be something for everyone and local people have a big say in what they want to get involved in.
Not only that but a one-stop health shop will be established so people can get nutritional advice, health information and find out more about making informed lifestyle changes – for example, healthy eating, weight management or quitting smoking.
Existing sports and community facilities will host the activities which are being delivered in partnership with community groups and sports clubs including Teignbridge-owned Broadmeadow Sports Centre, Teignmouth Rugby and Footballs Clubs, Kingsway Residents’ Association, Hand in Hand Neighbourhood Partnership, Teign Housing and Teignmouth Learning Centre.
Teignmouth West Ward is one of the most disadvantaged in the district and Sports Bug will go a long way in helping people living there get access to new and different sporting pastimes, feel even healthier and a bigger part of the community.
Designed in response to local demand, the Community Sport Activation Fund allows local authorities, charities and other organisations to apply for funding for innovative projects that will get more people playing sport.
Cllr George Gribble, Teignbridge District Council’s Executive Spokesman for Communities, Recreation and Leisure, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have secured this funding from the Community Sport Activation Fund. Sport can have an enormously positive impact on health and wellbeing and gives people the chance to try something new.
“We are delighted to be able to provide our residents with more opportunities to access physical activity as well as nutritional advice and support for breaking bad habits. In spite of the tough economic climate, Teignbridge continues to invest in projects that have real benefits and real outcomes for local communities.
"We are confident Sports Bug will encourage people to try something new, change habits and lead healthier lifestyles.”
Cllr David Cox, Teignbridge District Council’s ward member for West Teignmouth, said: "This is very welcome news and testament to the behind the scenes work of Teignbridge District Council's officers. This will boost the tremendous work being done by the voluntary sector in West Teignmouth particularly Kingsway Residents Association and Teignmouth Learning Centre.
“We have seen significant success when these organisations, along with Teignbridge, police, Teign Housing and voluntary groups work together.”
Mike Diaper, Sport England Director of Community Sport, said: "It’s great to be working with innovative projects like Sports Bug to offer people the chance to get into sport in a way that best suits them.
“The investment being made through the Community Sport Activation Fund is making a real difference at a very local level. I’m particularly pleased that more than half the funding is going into projects in deprived areas, helping more people develop a lifelong sporting habit.”
The Community Sport Activation Fund is investing a total of £47.5 million of funding over five funding rounds. Already 156 projects have shared in £27.2 million of funding over three rounds, receiving grants of between £50,000 and £250,000 to provide grassroots sport at a very local level.
