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Case Study: Summer Sports Coaching in the Lache 

Background information

During recent consultation through Lache Master planning (Planning For Real exercise) which involved over 200 local residents sports coaching and the need for additional activities for children and young people (especially during the school holidays) was identified as needed in Lache. Having sports coaching sessions for all ages were specifically highlighted in their recent evaluation report as a ‘Quick Wins’ project.

In 2005, Sport Cheshire coaches provided a range of sporting activities for children and young people for 2 afternoons for 6 weeks on Sycamore Field, Lache in Chester. Unfortunately in early 2006, Sport Cheshire lost their Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) funding to carry on working in Lache and other areas of Cheshire and alternative funding had to be found to run sports coaching.

Community Development support

The Council’s Community Development Worker has worked with Lache Park Ltd, a local community based voluntary organisation at Lache Community Centre, to negotiate and organise sports coaching for local young people in the school holidays since Summer 2005. Since then, she has supported Lache Park in securing £2500 from Lache Neighbourhood Management community chest scheme to run 6 weeks of activities with another provider, with a contribution of fruit and water to the scheme from the local Healthy Living Network.

With support from the Community Development Worker in securing funding, Summer Sports’ coaching has been successfully delivered in Lache for the last two years with very positive feedback from residents and young people. Increasing the number of children involved in sports coaching during the Summer also has associated health and physical activity benefits.

This year sports coaching sessions have been running throughout the summer on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons on the school field, the new Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) and indoors at Lache Community Centre. Activities have included football, boxing, street dancing, cricket and hockey under the supervision of experienced EC- Sports coaches Errol, Bev and Jason. They have been assisted by a Community Sports Leader from Queens Park High School. Over fifty children and young people have registered with the coaching sessions and approximately 30 have attended each session. Options are currently being explored to continue running sessions after the summer.

The summer sports coaching has become so popular that it was been suggested that the coaching should take place throughout the year. In order to provide this it has been suggested that a sport development position be created to support this activity, encourage community sport volunteers / leaders and to develop the use of the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA). Lache Neighbourhood Management’s children and young people’s theme group is currently investigating the viability of a sport development position with the assistance of Shelagh Jones (Council – Senior PE Advisor).

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