Blaenau Gwent, Wales

Posted on Thu 19 January 2012

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The Blaenau Gwent Fair Share Trust panel had considered and approved over a lengthy 3 month process, an application, to create a Sport Inclusion project, the aim of which was to reach out to the people in this socially and economically deprived area through the medium of Sport. The project planned to create a role for a Sports Inclusion Officer who would be responsible for engaging people in sports activities, not only from a health and fitness perspective but also as a means to gain qualifications and an interest in employment opportunities in the sporting arena.

The project was well thought out and provided a good business case for going forward and for the activity of the Sports Inclusion Officer to become sustainable, through accessing additional funding in year 2 and 3. Unfortunately the project has fallen at the twin hurdles presented by match funding and remaining time available to access Fair Share Trust funding as the 10 year programme enters its 10th year. Sometimes, to access match funding, life is dictated by the other funder’s’ timetable and in this instance a very promising Fair Share Trust project has had to be deferred, due to the other funding not being available in time for the project to start in a timeframe which would allow the Fair Share Trust funding to be spent.

It is hoped that other funding can be found in the future to support this project, as it has potential to change lives and attitudes and provide training which can lead to employment. The panel had allocated £46,000, almost all the remaining funding to the project and will have to make some decisions in the next few months as to how best to spend this, in view of the small amount of time remaining.

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