Background

The Community Club Development Programme is an innovative collaboration between government - the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Sport England and 19 national governing bodies.

This programme enables, for the first time, identified national governing bodies of sport to strategically identify capital projects for investment and to work in partnership with Sport England officers to see the projects delivered. It empowers the National Governing Bodies to make strategic decisions for the benefit of their sport. "Community Club Development" is intended to address the needs of the backbone of English sport, the community based sports club. In a recent survey of sports clubs the lack of adequate sports facilities was sited as the major issue inhibiting the development of clubs.

The Government's strategy for delivering sport in England, Game Plan, confirms that an increase in participation in sport and physical activity is one of the two overarching objectives for sport. The report goes on to make four recommendations, one of which (on initiatives within grassroots participation, with particular reference to the socially excluded and poor facilities) is most pertinent to this programme.

Funding for the programme is £100 million - £20 million from the Government's Capital Modernisation Fund (CMF) and £40 million from the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) 2002 - and is intended to allow for a total around 250-300 projects. The £20 million, Year 1, CMF money had to be committed by 31st March 2004 for the first round of projects, with two further rounds to commit the CSR funding, March 2005 and March 2006 respectively. A further round of funding was awarded during 2007 and the current programme is scheduled to finish in March 2008.

The programme itself was signed off by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in December 2002, and it was agreed that management of the programme be handed to Sport England.

What are the aims and objectives of the Community Club Development Programme?

The programme aims to create a viable sports club infrastructure in England that links with schools, provides appropriate support and pathways for identifying and developing talented individuals and meets the needs of local communities.

The overall aims of this investment programme are:

• To assist in creating a sustainable and financially viable sports club infrastructure in England that links with schools, provides appropriate support and pathways for identifying and developing talented individuals and meets the needs of local communities
• To increase club membership levels among young people and to support the development of quality assured 'junior' sections of clubs
• To increase club membership among women, black and other ethnic groups and people with disabilities

The objectives which the investment programme is seeking to achieve are:

• To promote the development of sports clubs for young people through enhancing club school links and extending community access
• To promote the development of 'hub/beacon' clubs that create club networks and pathways through sport linked to the NGB programmes
• To promote the development of multi sport clubs to achieve economies of scale and to promote cross sport co-operation and development
• To ensure that facility investment is supported by adequate investment in the training and development of key people (coaches, officials and administrators)
• To create a large investment programme and ensure long-term viability and sustainability

Which National Governing Bodies have been identified?

The programme has identified 19 National Governing Bodies that have been split into Band A and Band B sports.

Band A Sports

• English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)
• Football Association (FA)
• Lawn Tennis Association (LTA)
• Rugby Football Union (RFU)

These sports will receive a total allocation of £9.4 million each over a 3 year period. Band A NGBs are responsible for the initial identification, project development and monitoring of how their projects are delivering the key aims and objectives of the programme.

Band B Sports

• Amateur Swimming Association (ASA)
• Amateur Rowing Association (ARA)
• Badminton Association of England (BAoE)
• British Gymnastics Association (BGA)
• British Judo Association (BJA)
• British Cycling Federation (BCF)
• British Canoe Union (BCU)
• England Basketball (EBBA)
• England Hockey (EH)
• England Netball (AENA)
• English Table Tennis Association (ETTA)
• Rugby Football League (RFL)
• England Squash Association (ESA)
• Amateur Boxing Association (ABA)
• England Golf Partnership (EGP)

These sports are bidding from a total pot of £20 million. At present each NGB has been earmarked a sum of £1.66M for investment into Capital Projects, however this amount may change depending on an NGB's ability to propose projects that meet the criteria of the programme. Band B NGBs receive Officer support from Sport England to undertake the project development and assessment of schemes.

The funding available through the scheme should be considered as one element of an overall strategic approach to the development of community clubs. Clubs and National Governing Bodies must also consider the overall sports development remit - coaching, volunteers, engaging the local community, as well as increasing and retaining members. This programme has enabled NGBs to begin to make strategic investment decisions - this decision making process is integral in the development of Whole Sport Plans and the necessity to understand and reflect the key aims and objectives of the 9 Regional Plans for Sport.

How are clubs selected?

The process of club selection is the responsibility of the NGBs. Although an open process many NGBs undertake the identification and selection process in line with their National Facilities Strategy, National Development Strategy and Regional plans for sport. NGBs will be expected to also liase with local partners, in particular Local Authorities and Local Strategic Partnerships. Only clubs that have been identified and supported by the relevant NGB will be considered.

Projects must not duplicate current or planned provision of facilities. NGB's should identify clubs and projects they want to put forward in the light of an analysis of their Development and Facility Strategy Plans. Strategic need will be best met by:

• Projects which provide enhanced facilities for sports at clubs with inadequate existing provision;
• Projects which are demonstrably linked to other NGB priority development work e.g. volunteering, coaching talent development and club/school links;
• Projects serving clusters (e.g. through a Beacon club infrastructure) meeting the needs of several clubs/sports;
• Clubs able to provide the greatest sporting and community benefit in terms of contributing to improved health, community cohesion, crime prevention etc; and
• Clubs in areas of both sporting and greatest social deprivation.