Leeds Activators NGB Pilot Project - Transforming Communities through Sport

1. Leeds Activators

2. National Governing Body (NGB) – Place Pilot! • Funding from Sport England, all core cities received £500,000 over 3 years • Embed NGB Whole Sport Plans at a local level • How do we work with NGBs to hit city priorities – inactivity, targeted communities and under-represented groups? • Effective locality working • 2 years on – “Activator model”, share key learning / outcomes, part of our future approach, scalable

3. Overview of Leeds activators

4. Why we think it works • The right person • Ability to engage with target groups (at individual and community levels) – key skills / attributes • Get the right person and you can teach the “sport” element • Work programmes • Specific outcomes, clear and realistic targets, balance of delivery (7-10 hours), preparation and customer contact time • Embedded in development teams • LCC and WYS (with strong links to NGBs) • Networks / connections / experience / support

5. Why we think it works • A key objective for the activator is how they create a social media presence and also build a relationship with participants (supports behaviour change) • Whatsapp and facebook (Leeds Girls Can), website (Run Leeds) • Constant support – increases retention • Environments need to feel friendly and safe! • All communities have areas people see as safe – schools, community centres etc. • Session delivery – welcoming and inclusive • Community development approach • Identify natural leaders / develop participant’s involvement in the groups – from helping to take register to taking on the session in a few months; funding resource to support this

6. Some headline figures: • Run Leeds • 1332 participants (574 inactive, 41% of all participants) • Male 426 (120 inactive 28% of all men) • Female 906 (427 inactive 47% of all women) • 62 volunteer run leaders trained and engaged • Website 22.6k unique visitors, 32.2% return rate, 40 volunteer authors of blogs and articles • Leeds Girls Can • 163 participants • 60 inactive (36% of participants) • *Women who started out as inactive are now undertaking more than one session • 12 volunteers trained (6 LIRFs, 3 ride leaders, 1 walk leader, 2 rounders) • 15 Leeds Girls Can ambassadors to be engaged by Dec 2016, “people like me”

7. Some Headline figures • Tennis • 4298 court reservations made by 1072 unique users (average participant has used the site 4.5 times) • 557 people attended the free come and try weekend • 1568 paid for coaching sessions made by 303 unique users (average participant has attended 19 sessions) • Coaching has generated around £4,300 since May to be contributed towards the 2016/17 budget for the activator role to continue. • Programme delivered by coaching scholars from Leeds Becketts University. • Understanding of customer demand / playing patterns • Build relevant offers • Sustainable business model

8. Some Headline figures • Table Tennis • Working with 14 neighbourhood networks to engage older socially isolated adults • Ping Parlours Free access to play at Leeds Corn Exchange and Kirkgate Market • Ping! in the Park • Community use / engagement • Ramgharia Centre • Ebor Gardens – Syrian community • Leeds Grand Mosque • Community hubs – Reginald Centre, Compton Centre etc. • Dementia café links with clubs

9. RowLeeds

10. RowLeeds – Vision Rowing is known as an affluent sport that only high-income adults and families can access. We are wanting to change that perception and make rowing accessible to all people, in particular disadvantaged communities in Leeds.

11. Why Rowing? • Huge demand, juniors & adults – waiting lists • Strategic priority for British Rowing • Investment & development around new boathouse • 3 x facilities – Roundhay Boathouse, Stourton Boathouse and Yeadon Tarn • London Youth Rowing/RowUK develop Leeds • Willingness from several partners to grow rowing • Links with Rowing & academic achievement

12. Partners • Leeds Rowing Club • British Rowing • Leeds City Council • Universities – University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University & Leeds Trinity University • Leeds City College • Sea Cadets • London Youth Rowing/RowUK • Yorkshire Sport Foundation

13. Simple 1-page plan • People - Create a pathway for schools, colleges and universities (dry & wet) • Workforce - Increase the current workforce to meet demands • Places - Use all water spaces and increase the number of dry rowing venues • Club - Increase capacity of the club reducing waiting lists

14. Collaborative Project • Leeds Rowing Club • University of Leeds • Leeds City Council • London Youth Rowing / RowUK • Yorkshire Sport Foundation • Leeds Active Schools • Ruth Gorse Academy/Gorse Academies Trust

15. Rowing Activator –Paul Stone Role Aims: To grow capacity at Leeds Rowing Club for juniors & adults To increase the number of juniors & adults accessing and participating in rowing from deprived areas To develop Thwaites Lane & Roundhay Boathouse as thriving community hubs

16. Further Developments • UofLeeds SLA with RowUK (All) • Development of a RowLeeds website • Developing pathway Schools-College-University • Schools Monitoring system • Student Leadership Programme • Steering Group • Schools Development (People) • Head Coach – Abbi Finch at TRGA/Elliott Hudson • Yeadon Tarn Developments (Places) • LBU, LCC&WYS, RowUK