Stoke-on-trent sport and physical activity strategy 2009-2016

e alternative types of provision that are more relevant for the area inquestion.13. BSF provides an unparalleled opportunity to fully integrate education and thecommunity use of school sites. It is not the panacea to solve all facilityshortfall issues, but it can provide opportunities for local people to becomemore active, potentially solving a number of social problems in some of themost disadvantaged areas in the country. However, such opportunities maynot be fully exploited unless important lessons are learned from the localauthorities who have been involved in the earliest waves. These include:• Education Focus - As funding for BSF is provided by the Department forChildren, Schools and Families (DCSF) proposals in early waves havetended to focus on educational/curricular attainment with little reference tocommunity use when determining the nature and level of sports facilityprovision;In response: <strong>Stoke</strong>-on-Trent has established a Sports and PEStakeholder Group, chaired by the BSF director, which can provideearly advice and guidance on both general issues and community sportand physical activity needs for each school site.• Neighbouring/Local Facilities - Existing facility provision, even in theimmediate neighbourhood, not being taken into consideration. This resultsin over-provision within a locality and has an impact on financial viability;In response: The Sport and Physical Activity Strategy provides muchof the necessary justification for the future facility network of halls,pools and other facilities, particularly in relation to how these can helpmeet the needs of the wider community. It also includes thejustification for the maintenance, refurbishment and/or replacement ofswimming pools on school sites.• Security of Access – Failure to plug gaps in facility provision becauselong-term security of provision for the community has not been taken intoconsideration from the outset.In response: <strong>Stoke</strong>-on-Trent is considering how best to legally ensurethat all facilities are made available to the community for use atevenings and weekends as a minimum, and which:• specify the length of the agreement (ideally 20+ years);• provide a definition of community use;• specify the minimum number of hours for community use (inaddition to any extended schools programme);• ensure the balance between block bookings and casual use;• specify the hours that the facility should be made available forsports development by the City or its partners.Nortoft Partnerships Ltd <strong>Stoke</strong>-on-Trent Page | 72Sport & Physical Activity Strategy 2009 – 2016October 2009