Shropshire Launch of Regional Plan for Sport

9.22.39pm GMT Tue 9th Nov 2004

On 9 November, the third in a series of six West Midlands events took place at the Telford Moat House to launch 'Sign up for Sport'. The Plan presents the priorities for sport in the region. Approved by the Regional Sports Board, and endorsed by the Government Office for the West Midlands, the Regional Assembly, Advantage West Midlands, the Regional Public Health Group and West Midlands Life, it provides the framework for delivering sport in the region over the next four years.

The Plan's vision is "to significantly increase participation in sport within all age and social groups, leading to improvements in health and other social and economic benefits, and providing the basis for progression into higher levels of performance for those with the talent and desire to progress." The West Midlands is one of the regions that has most need of improvement, and the plan is a call to action. Six County Sports Partnerships in the region will develop a more strategic role in the co-ordination of sport in their area.

The seven key objectives are: Increasing community participation in clubs and community sport; Widening access to sport; Improving education through PE and sport; Improving the health and well-being of people through sport; Improving levels of sports performance; Creating safer and stronger communities through sport; Developing skills of the voluntary and paid work force in sport. Seven workshops were formed at the conference to consider the priorities for the policies defined in each of these areas, and presentations were made by specialists from the region. Look up www.sportengland.org