Sport England Place Based Funding - local partnerships opportunities
The following information is from Darlington Borough Council.
Darlington has been selected as a place partner to collaborate with Sport England, to identify how we can increase physical activity levels locally. Place based work is about whole system change, bringing partners together to normalise physical activity as part of everyday life. This is not about Sport or Sports Facilities. It is about inactivity, activity, accessibility, health, and lifestyle.
There are four Key Objectives to work toward.
- To Increase levels of physical activity
- To reduce levels of physical inactivity
- Addressing Inequalities.
- To provide positive experiences for children and young people
You can find out more about Sport England’s ideas with this link.
https://www.sportengland.org/news-and-inspiration/partnerships-with-53-new-places-announced
Darlington as a Place Partner
Darlington is one of the 53 places in the country considered eligible to apply for Sport England Place Partnership funding. It is estimated that each place can apply for up to £1million to effect whole system change and address physical inactivity. The amount of funding awarded will depend upon demonstrated levels of need and the capacity to work together to bring about impactful and sustained changes.
Darlington has been identified as a potential partner area because it has pockets of high deprivation and inequality. The application must focus on these areas, but there is flexibility to consider other areas and to address certain issues or settings.
The process of applying for funding and delivering objectives will be supported and partnered by Tees Valley Sport. Tees Valley Sport are the Active Partnership for the sub region.
If we are to progress, we will bid in two phases, a development phase and a delivery phase. The Development phase will enable us resource to work up our ideas, to
identify true community need, to better understand our communities, to test some theories and, ultimately, to shape a refined bid for a delivery stage.
If funded the whole programme may last up to three years.
Collaboration and Community Engagement:
Sport England emphasises working with local communities, rather than simply "doing things to them," to understand their needs and build on existing strengths. This is not about Darlington Council securing and devolving funding. A joined-up approach is imperative from the start. We need representation from the Voluntary Sector, Faith Groups, and Community Organisations to develop our ideas. These organisations know our communities and understand the realities of their everyday lives.
We would love Community Organisations to become part of the process, to share expertise and insight with us and help shape the direction of Darlington’s place-based work. There may also be potential for funding that could be used to pay for an additional role, or fund additional work within your organisation depending on the submission and identified priority areas.
Useful video to explain the approach: Place-based working | Buddle
For an informal discussion or to find out more about this potential funding and partnership work please contact:
Gemma Nelson – Strategic Lead Insight and Place, Tees Valley Sport (G.nelson@tees.ac.uk)
