What We Do
Our vision is to create:
"A network of quality partnerships and key agencies committed to providing a single system for all people to benefit from sport and active recreation in West Yorkshire".
Background
West Yorkshire Sport was established in 2001 as a formal Partnership of the five local authorities in West Yorkshire (City of Bradford MC, Calderdale MBC, Kirklees MC, Leeds CC, Wakefield MDC). Prior to this there had been a history of ad hoc joint projects and cross-boundary working that had taken place in the County in areas such as Passport to Leisure, sports counselling, Youth Games and coaching development.
The impetus for making the Partnership more formal came from the desire to deliver Sport England’s Active Sports Programme in the County. Whilst the need to deliver the programme was paramount, the Executive team (the Chief Sports Officers in each local authority) was keen to ensure that the benefits of Partnership working would be applied to other areas of work related to developing sport in the County.
This strategy is not a strategy for sport in West Yorkshire, although it will assist in the delivery of strategic plans at Yorkshire and District level. Rather, it is to give direction for the West Yorkshire Sports Partnership (WYSP) by clarifying its aims, areas of work and structures over the next three years.
The original plan was put together in September 2002. Since that date, great debate within Sport England has taken place on the role of County Sports Partnerships and the development of the “Single System for Sport”. Much clearer guidelines are now in place on the role of County Sports Partnerships and their position within the “Single System for Sport”.
Throughout 2004/2005 an external consultants’ report was commissioned to assess the current position of West Yorkshire Sports Partnership against the emerging guidelines. The consultants found a “strong and maturing” Partnership, which was clearly heading in the right direction. As a result, Sport England Yorkshire designated West Yorkshire, at the time as one of only a handful of “Fit for Purpose” County Sports Partnerships in England.
The structures that have been developed are now bearing fruit. Over the first three years of delivery:
• 60,000 young people have accessed coaching and competitive opportunities
• 185 new teams have been created
• 127 clubs have gained accreditation
• 800 coaches have accessed education awards
• 74 full-time coaching positions have been created.
In view of these positive results of the West Yorkshire Sports Partnership, it was agreed by partners there was no need for a complete change of direction for the Partnership. Rather, the current strategy is one that has evolved from the original, taking into account the changing expectancies of Sport England and other key stakeholders.
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