Across the Borough there is a fantastic network of sports clubs and groups who offer active participation opportunities for all. In this section we have highlighted some specific participation schemes, which have been developed locally with a strategic targeted outcome.
This Girl Can – Whitby
This Girl Can Whitby is a female participation programme to help signpost and get more women involved in sport and activities in Whitby and surrounding areas. ‘This Girl Can’ campaign first launched in 2015, this project was put in place to embrace the core values and aims of the campaign, to encourage and celebrate female participation and volunteering in sport. We want to bring the females of the community together, working together to achieve their different goals through participation.
The programme is inclusive to all, aiming to accommodate different sessions for different; ages, abilities, disabilities, ethnicities etc. Some new activities are in the process of being set up, one being netball the other rounders. Furthermore, the current activities and clubs of the community are being promoted through this project to increase participation.
The programme
- Increases awareness of clubs and activities in the area
- Find out why some people don’t participate
- Increase participation
- Promote the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle
- Bring the community closer together
- Provide more clubs/activities for the community
- Achieve goals
- Be inclusive
Participating clubs
- Everyone Active Whitby
- Whitby Hockey Club
- Whitby Tennis Club
- Whitby Netball Club
- Whitby Boxing Club
- Rowing Clubs
- Whitby Seals (Swimming club)
- Fishburn Park (Football club)
Active Filey
Active Filey has been created to promote health related activities and sports opportunities such as cycling / running /jogging/ walking and water sports like sea swimming.
The ethos is that of getting folks active and creating local opportunities for participation inclusive of age and ability on our fabulous coast and countryside.
Be Active Together
‘Be Active Together’ is a multi-agency group with members from The Rotary Club of Scarborough, Scarborough Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council, Carers Plus, the YMCA and community voluntary agencies.
We have come together to promote engagement in sporting, performing arts and other activities within the town of Scarborough. We believe that developing active skills and interests is a great way to meet others, improve health, improve learning, and build confidence.
The ‘Be Active Together ‘ event which will be hosted jointly at Scarborough Indoor Market Hall, Friarage School outdoor area and the YMCA on St Thomas Street, between 11am and 3pm on Sunday 26th September 2021, where local community groups will promote their club / activity / sport / organisation to young people and their families.
Groups attending the event include;
- Kingfishers Swimming Club
- Scarborough Rugby Union Club
- Everyone Active
- Desapline Martial Arts
- Scarborough Footgolf
- North Yorkshire Youth
- Beyond Housing
- Scarborough Table Tennis Club
- Scarborough Junior Netball Club
- Scarborough Disabled Swimming Group
- Scarborough Athletic FC
- Coventry University
- Community First Yorkshire
- Scarborough Higashi Karate
- Scarborough Sea Cadets
- Scarborough Boys Brigade
- Scarborough Girl Guides
The Performing Arts timetable at the Scarborough YMCA is:
- 11am – Hattons School of Performing Arts
- 11:45am – Coventry University
- 12:45pm – Coventry University
- 1.30pm – YMCA Productions
- 2:15pm – PQA Academies
There will be a free bus service on 26th September to help those who want to come along but who may not have access to transport.
The bus, provided by Shoreline Suncruisers, will have the sign ‘Be Active’ on the front.
It will start an inbound service at 10am at Eastfield shops then travel to Wreyfield shops for around 10.25am before stopping on Queen Street (outside Boyes) store at approximately 11.00am.
The return journey will begin at Queen Street (Boyes Store) at 3pm , following the same return route back to Eastfield.
Passengers will not need a ticket to use the service and is based upon a first come first served basis.
As part of the ‘Be Active’ event we are keen to assist local groups with some important hot topics; to assist with their delivery, recovery and sustaining active participation. One of the key components of creating a safe environment for people to enjoy sport in is having appropriate robust safeguarding policies and procedures in place and this can be demonstrated in the Child Protection in Sport Unit video My Magic Sports Kit which demonstrates how young players perceive adult behaviour and how it potentially puts them off playing sport. Equally important is the requirement for adult safeguarding and this can be delivered effectively by engaging with the Ann Craft Trust
One of the main challenges of delivering grassroots sport is recruiting volunteers and also the importance of recognising volunteers within your club and group.
Social media platforms play a big part in most people’s lives, and they can be used positively and effectively by clubs to raise awareness, find new members and volunteers but also to raise vital funds. This video shows how clubs can make an effective use of Twitter as a platform, and this video shows how to utilise Facebook for similar purposes.
Managing finances and gaining external funding is also something that is always on clubs agendas and the Sport England Club Matters is an excellent resource for everything to develop your club, with one such example been on future fitting your finances The Club Matters site is also an excellent place to look at if you are establishing your clubs governance or looking at the right structure
External funding is a competitive process, but achievable if you have an identified project with clear achievable outcomes, that add value to your offer and increase active participation. Always a good starting point is the Sport England website, which will explain how you go about applying for funding and potential eligibility. Another useful source of funding for clubs is the Easyfundraising option.
“A Community That Plays Together Stays Together”