AQW 36368/11-15


Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry


Tabled Date: 23/09/2014
Answered On Date: 02/10/2014
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure for an update on the steps her Department is taking to address sports participation rates in the top 30 per cent most deprived areas, where rates are significantly lower than the national average.


Answer:
DCAL secured funding of £4.5m within the current CSR period towards a programme for promoting equality, tackling poverty and social exclusion through sport.  This funding was distributed equally between Ulster Council GAA, Ulster Branch Irish Rugby Football Union and Irish Football Association over a three year period and up until 31st March 2015. Programmes and projects are being implemented by these sports and include opportunities across the north of Ireland, including in the top 30% most deprived areas.
Sport NI also delivers a range of programmes and projects with this focus. These include: -
Active Communities
Active Communities is a Sport NI National Lottery Funded initiative that provides opportunities for participation in sport and physical recreation in communities throughout the north of Ireland, and especially among underrepresented groups. The initiative is delivered in partnership with local District Councils across the north of Ireland.
In 2013/14, a total of 109,129 people participated in Active Communities a total of 1.04 million times. 34,267 (31.4%) of those participants came from the 0-30% most disadvantaged communities in the north as follows:
Most Disadvantaged %
National Population %
Participants %
Participants
0 – 10
9.1%
12.1%
13,205
10 – 20
9.8%
10%
10,913
20 - 30
9.9%
9.3%
10,149
Total
28.8%
31.4%
34,267
In addition, Sport NI is undertaking the following:
Investment in and deployment of 117 Active Communities coaches;
Embedding targets for engagement in and benefits for sports clubs in areas of greatest need through the Active Clubs programme;
Prioritising applications from areas of greatest need through the Active Awards for Sport programme;
Engagement with schools in, or serving, areas of high social need through Activ8 initiatives;
Through the Midnight Street Soccer programme, Sport NI has invested £329,600 in football programmes serving targeted areas of greatest need; and
Sport NI is working with strategic partner organisations such as Outdoor Recreation NI and Disability Sport NI to support improved engagement in areas of high social need through outdoor (adventure) activities and for people with a disability.
Boxing Investment Programme
The Boxing Investment Programme specifically targets boxing clubs that could have a positive impact on participant rates in Super Output Areas and Neighbourhood Renewal areas. This was accomplished by prioritising projects to boxing clubs based in or near these areas.
Tollymore National Outdoor Centre
Sport NI’s national outdoor centre at Tollymore is also developing interventions for increasing participation opportunities for people, especially among underrepresented groups, and includes the following measures in relation to the most deprived areas:
Providing ‘outreach’ programmes for those who live in areas of greatest need;
Developing partnerships with a range of organisations, to provide hill walking, canoe-sport and mountain biking opportunities in areas such as the Belfast Hills and the Lagan Corridor;
Developing a network within community youth workers to ensure opportunities for training are maximised;
Provision of a wide range of open days and introductory skills courses and sessions. A number of these courses will be provided off site to provide groups from areas of greatest need with the opportunity to participate in adventure sports;
Developing, piloting and rolling out low cost leadership training in a number of off-site locations;
Establishing a support structure for those who work in adventure sports in areas of greatest need, which will provide CPD opportunities; and
20 bursaries to be provided for leaders who work with groups in areas of greatest need.