Previous Programmes - Case Studies

Westway Playcentre Playsport (APP10-206)

Climbing and handball coaching sessions are being held at Westway  Sports Centre during the summer holidays for children who are attending the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea play centres.  All children over the age of 8 who go to these play centres participate in the sessions twice a week for five weeks.  Westway are engaging 150 children on each day the sessions are held.

Westway are offering the children that attend play centres in the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea the opportunity to try climbing and handball for free, which they would not normally have the chance to do.  Westway are providing top level facilities and expert coaches for these sessions.  The climbing wall has over 300 top-rope and lead rope climbing routes, and caters for all ages and abilities. 

The organiser John O’Brien said, “the funding from Play Sport London: Free Sport has opened opportunities for kids to get outdoors and try something new. “  Matt Moore from Westway Sports Trust also commented, “the funding has enabled us to reach different groups of children, and given them access to the great facilities available to them at Westway.”

To maintain participation all the children who attend the climbing and handball sessions will be offered free and discounted opportunities to take part in the regular term-time programme at Westway.  The children will also be encouraged to take part in after school sports clubs which take place at a number of local primary schools.  The children who visit the centres as part of their play centre will be attending Play Day on Friday 20th August 2010 at Emslie Hornimans Park. 

B2B Basketball Competitions (APP10-227)

B2B Basketball Competitions, organised by First Call Housing Foundation, are currently being held at numerous locations across London.  B2B is a new and exciting adaptation of the game of Basketball, designed to introduce and encourage young people to get into the sport.  B2B’s main focus is on getting fit, having fun and making friends, and is open to everyone from age 11-19.

B2B is an all day event that consists of coaching in the morning, followed by 2 v 2 competitions in the afternoon.  As well as basketball, a DJ is playing, dance groups perform and motivational speakers come along to talk about the benefits of sport.  The event is designed to focus on participant enjoyment.  Organiser, Joseph Maye, also invites coaches from local clubs along to the event so those participants who are interested in taking up the sport regularly can chat to the coaches.

The atmosphere at the B2B Basketball Competitions was fantastic.  PlaySport London: Free Sport posters were displayed around the venue and organisers were wearing their t-shirts.  First Call Housing Foundation had a number of enthusiastic volunteers helping to make the events a success.  B2B Basketball Competitions are engaging a vast number of youths from diverse backgrounds across London, and helping to increase the popularity of Basketball.

50+ Keep Fit – Haringey (APP10-197)

The 50+ Keep Fit programme, organised by Freshly Squeezed, consist of exclusive dance and fitness sessions for the over 50s and those with limited mobility. The sessions involve light and gentle exercises to music to help mobilise joints, and low-impact aerobic movements to help improve and maintain physical fitness. Inclusive to those with physical disability, 50% of each of the sessions entails seated exercises, allowing everyone to participate and enjoy a minimum of 30 minutes of mobility and strengthening exercises. The sessions are led by Terrance Chambers, a fully qualified fitness coach, and involve light refreshments before and after the exercises. The sessions have proved so popular that participation has increased by 100% from last year.

Su Davis, the organiser of the sessions, highlighted that, “7-8 people this year have been referred to us by their Doctors for physiotherapy!” Terrance Chambers also commented, “The women just love it here. They come in week in and week out, increasing in numbers every time! It’s so good to see what the funding from PlaySport London: Free Sport can lead to.”

50+ Keep Fit is inclusive to all communities and encourages continued participation after the sessions have finished. Each member will be contacted and informed of regular sessions that will continue in October 2011, offering affordable membership/seasonal costs.

Shooting Stars Trampoline Club (APP10-221)

The Shooting Stars Trampoline club is a weekly trampoline session for young people of all abilities aged between 6-16 years.  It gives young people the opportunity to enjoy and learn new and exciting trampoline techniques free of charge with the aid of qualified trampoline coaches.  All attendees receive 1:1 coaching to suit their individual needs.  For many young people this club is the first time they have used a trampoline, so these sessions are a great way to introduce them to this sport.  It is also an exciting way to keep young people healthy and engaged throughout the summer holidays. 

The trampoline sessions are taking place at Coram's Fields which is a registered charity and provides positive activities for young people free of charge.  Coram's Fields is a unique seven acre playground and park for children living in or visiting London.  It is open access, provides a calm, safe and stimulating environment where children can play freely and enjoy a varied programme of activities. 

Organiser Naz Deen said, “PlaySport London: Free Sport funding has enabled us to provided trampoline opportunities for around 100 children.  We aim to provide safe, enjoyable and purposeful sessions, which will lead to them having a positive sporting experience.  Our hope is that these children will continue participating in trampoline later in life.”  The sessions will act as a catalyst to inspire future athletes especially in the build up to the 2012 Olympics.  Coram’s Fields hope to keep these trampoline sessions running in the future.