Good Practice

Case Study 1: Sunderland Wheelchair Tennis Club
The Club was supported in its development by the Council's Sport and Leisure Team and assistance provided in forming a club constitution, opening a bank account and submitting funding applications. This group of volunteers has now successfully obtained £4,374 from Sport England's 'Awards for All' funding programme and it is delivering weekly sessions for young people at the Sunderland Puma Tennis Centre.

Case Study 2: St Aidan's Junior Badminton Club
The Badminton Club was assisted in its aim to operate from the St Aiden's Secondary School. The club is now open to all members of the community who wish to develop badminton skills. Funding was initially received from 'Awards for All' to establish the club, pay for coaching fees, coach education and training, venue hire and equipment. The club has also been supported to increase the numbers of girls participating in badminton.

Case Study 3: Houghton Boys / Star Football Club
Houghton Boys / Star Football club were supported by Sport and Leisure's Sports Development Team through the Active Sport Programme, to increase the number of girls playing football. Through the Women's and Disability Football Development Officer (for Tyne and Wear) a meeting was arranged with the Club to agree how Sport and Leisure could assist in building up the number of girls playing in their under 12 and 10 teams.

A series of 'girls only' football taster sessions were undertaken, in six primary schools over a period of three weeks. During these sessions information was also provided regarding other football coaching sessions in the locality particularly at local clubs. The overall scheme was very successful with a total of 26 girls attending the coaching sessions.

Dubmire Primary School was chosen to host one course and Houghton Boys / Stars Football Club to host another. This allowed the club coaches to be introduced to the girls and a strong partnership was formed between the organised coaching sessions and the club. This link proved successful with 13 girls joining the club are now regularly playing in the Russell Foster Youth League.