EDUCATION, SPORT & CULTURE

FIT FOR THE FUTURE A FIVE-YEAR STRATEGY FOR SPORT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN 2014 - 2018 1 October 2013 Education, &Culture Sport Assistant Minister RoyDeputy Le Herissier, FOREWORD participation andlegacy,participation andhowthosethingscan make ourIslandfit for thefuture. preparation,about is It happen. that make help to timed perfectly is strategy sport This the for habits become will these hope restWe oftheirlives. sport. new a try or club a join racquet, a up something do pick to to incentivethem inspiring even an maybe ages or volunteer to all them encouraging of perhaps different, people give will optimistic. it be scale, to personal reason more a a Jersey On gives it recession of out climb to starts world the As like just legacy’, ‘sporting a leaving inspiration, an be also the London Olympics. can to together It works success. Island the a as it pride national make of source a be can It springboard. a gives us Games not Island ways, The community. own many our in of benefit sport the for of also power but visitors the for just use to opportunity unique a have we means It event –it’s alsoachance to showcase ourIsland. sporting a than more is this growing;already is anticipation of feeling which will put our sporting community in an international spotlight. The lessIn twothan years’ Jerseytime hostwill NatWest the Games, Island

CONTENTS Funding andInvestment The Plan blocks Starting Our impact What Jersey peoplesaid Using thepower ofsport Foreword

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USING THE Living Higher Better POWER OF Aspirations Longer

SPORT National Cutting Pride Obesity

Without doubt, sport is an important and valued part of Jersey life. SKILLS HEALTH Club The evidence is all around us and in the media every day. Productivity HAPPINESS Development We also know this because Islanders say that sport in Jersey matters. In early 2013 a wide variety of people took part in a consultation on the subject. Whether they were competitive athletes who represent the Island or people who enjoy simple activities like walking or cycling, AMBITION VALUES their message was very clear: we need to do more to support sport.

So we start from a strong position. There is much to celebrate. Many sports have impressive LEADERSHIP Community

Economic SOCIAL SKILLS achievements in local, national and international competitions. We now have an opportunity Growth Cohesion to capitalise on two things; the existing enthusiasm for sport and the potential of a major international event. ATTAINMENT

This is why a co-ordinated sport strategy is essential.

Lower It will help strengthen our preparations in the run-up to the prestigious games. It will also help medical Reduced raise the profile of sport and enthuse our community to get involved. The focus on sport will boost costs Crime support for the Jersey team and others who are representing the Island at a high level. Just like the London Olympics, this can have a major impact on national pride. Improved Educational World We need the legacy of the to extend beyond the summer of 2015. More and Outcomes Aware more people recognise that taking part in physical activity is not only good for individual children and adults, it also has a positive impact on our community, particularly in terms of social cohesion, economic activity and the cost of medical care.

There is also recognition in Jersey, but also further afield, that our modern environment and lifestyles are creating health problems for the future.

As recently as May 2013 medical experts predicted that if current trends continue nearly half of all British men and more than a third of women will be obese in the next 30 years. This will lead to The most important step will be the creation of a new body designed to champion sport, a rise in related illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease and strokes – and, inevitably, increase opportunities for those who already take part and introduce new, inspiring plans to a rise in health care costs. engage those who do not. This new group, independent of the States, will be led by people We are already facing higher medical bills because of our ageing population. But, unlike the who are passionate about sport and share the vision for a more active Jersey. effects of growing old, obesity-related illnesses are preventable. We can take steps to reverse the This document also identifies the other important priorities. It focuses on filling the gaps and trend. That is why a focussed sport strategy promoting physical activity in all its forms is now an tackling the issues raised in the consultation. These include swimming ability, essential for an essential part of government planning for the future. An active population is more likely to be a island, and engaging groups that are under-represented in sport or not currently taking part healthy population with a better quality of life. at all. However, the development of sport in Jersey will have to be an on-going process. As the Jersey sport is already thriving and we have many success stories. But there are also gaps. We economic and social landscape changes over the next ten years, new priorities will emerge. need to ensure that sport is available to everyone in the Island in a way that engages them and becomes a regular part of their life. To do that we need a new approach.

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OUR IMPACT WHAT JERSEY ESC and sports clubs in Jersey are already active and successful. In aiming PEOPLE SAID to be Fit for the future the Island has a strong base to work from:

Between March and May 2013 we asked islanders for their views about sport. The aim was to update the previous sport strategy and set a clear direction for the future. Four key questions were posed to tackle the major challenges faced by people who take part in or organise sport in Jersey. The content of the strategy is based on the views expressed.

The main findings of the consultation were:

76% said we need to change how sport is organised The survey results showed considerable concern about the level and distribution of States funding. There was support for the creation of a vision and long-term plan to implement the strategy.

64% said we need a new organisation to oversee sport A new co-ordinating body was regarded, overall, as a necessary step towards providing a strong independent voice for the sporting community. It was envisaged as a dynamic, high-profile organisation for promoting sport and participation but with adequate funding and a minimum of bureaucracy.

67% said we need a new model for sport development Suggestions included the reorganisation of the current system of sports development officers so that expertise is more widely available. Also the creation of a Centre for Excellence, more support for schools and more community work.

69% said the States should continue to run its current sports facilities Users praised the States-owned centres - , Les Quennevais and Springfield – as well as the Exercise Referral and the Active card schemes. Concerns were expressed about the level of maintenance, prices and affordability. Privatisation or outsourcing were not supported.

The Sport Strategy Consultation document can be found at www.gov.je/consult

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STARTING BLOCKS THE PLAN

The aims of Jersey’s Fit For The strategy focuses on four key areas. The Future strategy are to: These reflect the main challenges highlighted in the consultation in early 2013.

Encourage more islanders to take part more often in physical activity

New sports body, better co-ordination, Inspire young people to make sport a habit for life 1. Organisation stronger voice

Use sport to develop social cohesion and positive behaviour 2. Getting active, School sport, a healthy life, staying active community impact States facilities, clubs and club houses, Use sport and physical activity to improve health 3. Spaces and places future plans Sport development, aiming high, Support our most talented athletes and raise Jersey’s 4. Personal bests sport events and tourism profile in national and international competitions

Some of the actions will be undertaken by the team at Education, Sport and Culture. Others will be carried out by clubs and associations, and these will be supported by the new organising body for sport once it starts work in 2015.

7 8 1. ORGANISATION 2. GETTING ACTIVE, STAYING ACTIVE

Our Ambition: To give sport a stronger ‘voice’ in Jersey and Our Ambition: To help more islanders take up physical activity. a new strategic direction. To achieve this we will… Over the next five years we will… If we do this…

To achieve this we will… Over the next five years we will… If we do this… • Create an environment • Build on the interest generated by the • More people who are most that makes it easy for 2015 NatWest Island Games. at risk of health problems later Create a new • Form a working party in Autumn • Sport in Jersey will have a new people to be more active • ‘Take sport to the people’ – provide in life will become active. co-ordinating body 2013 to define the structure and ‘champion’, a high-profile body more often. more opportunities for physical operating independently role of the new body. to represent its interests and • Parents will set a positive • Promote the benefits of activities in Parishes. example for children. but with financial support • Consider recommendations and promote sport. a healthy lifestyle. from the States. It will confirm clear terms of reference • Work with Health and Social Services • Obesity will be minimised. • Awareness will be raised and more • Further develop links to expand Exercise Referral. also have the ability to and responsibilities. islanders encouraged to be active. with health professionals. • More older people will participate. generate its own funding. • Provide resources to set up and • Fine-tune and develop the Active • Communication in the sporting • There will be a positive impact run the organisation. • Explore new ways card scheme. community will be improved. to attract less active • Ensure staff and facilities are in place. on the cost of medical care. • Provide funding to support on-going people. development of sport. • Clubs and associations will have • Help sports clubs to increase • Active membership better support. • Keep prices affordable. will increase. • Launch the new body by January 2015. membership, including disabled • Accountability will • Ensure strong links with participants. • Ensure strong links with the NatWest be clearer. the NatWest Island Island Games 2015 organising • Organise and support more Games 2015 organising sports events. committee. committee.

9 10 Our Ambition: To encourage children to take up sport at an early age. Our Ambition: To ensure all young people have opportunities to engage in positive activity. To achieve this we will… Over the next five years we will… If we do this… To achieve this we will… Over the next five years we will… If we do this… • Focus on the • Invest in PE and after-school sport • More children will take up sport development of at primary and secondary schools. at an early age, especially girls. Support and expand • Provide sport activities in key • Social cohesion will be strengthened physical literacy in • Promote the value of PE in the • They will develop a sporting community sport initiatives, locations in the community and anti-social behaviour minimised. young children. school curriculum. habit for life. targeting specific areas and • Target people who would not • There will be a positive effect on youth social groups • Increase the variety • Support staff and volunteers who • Long-term health normally participate crime rates and social inclusion. and quality of sport work and school aged children. prospects will improve. • Tailor activities to attract • Islanders’ health and and PE both in school • Deliver professional training. • Quality of life will be better. young people well-being will improve. and after school. • Target schools with limited space • More children will enjoy • Provide increased resource or facilities. PE and sport. for the Community and School • Provide assistance from Sport Sport Development team Development Officers.

11 12 3. SPACES AND PLACES

Our Ambition: To ensure all facilities are the highest possible standard.

To achieve this we will… Over the next five years we will… If we do this…

States facilities: • Invest £2.4 million in maintenance and • Facilities will be ready for • Ensure the States sport upgrades of States facilities, including the NatWest Island Games centres are efficiently run at Fort Regent, Les Quennevais, in Jersey in 2015. and available to the whole Springfield and FB Fields. • Facilities will be maintained community. • Review the Active scheme to ensure it and more attractive. • Invest in maintenance and meets users’ needs. • Islanders will continue to use upgrades. • Enable community groups to use more existing facilities. • Provide services that school facilities. • New users will be attracted attract more users. • Increase the number of events held in and participation will increase. • Keep prices affordable for ESC facilities. groups and individuals. • Invest £300,000 to buy and prepare • Increase number of school at least three new school playing fields. playing fields. • Confirm the future of Fort Regent.

Independent sports clubs: • Agree new leases to secure the long- • Facilities will be maintained • Help clubs develop and term future of clubs that use States- and more attractive. run their own facilities. owned sites. • Clubs will expand and increase • Invest £700,000 in maintenance Our Ambition: To ensure all young people become competent • Assist with forward membership. and upgrades. swimmers and are safe in the water and sea. planning. • More people will • Encourage and assist clubs to have use facilities. business and development plans. • Sports clubs will To achieve this we will… Over the next five years we will… If we do this… • Enter partnerships with clubs to be sustainable. develop facilities. • Focus on the • Invest in swimming programmes for • Barriers to in-school swimming development of primary and secondary school children. lessons will be removed. swimming for all • Build on the existing programme to • All children will have students in primary ensure all primary school children swimming tuition. schools. have swimming lessons. • More children will be competent • Support swimming • Increase the number of specialist swimmers and safe in the water. clubs and associations swimming teachers available to • More people will move on to to develop a training deliver lessons. other aquatic sport. and improvement plan • Review pool use to ensure all schools • All schools will meet the for young people have access to facilities. requirements of the Jersey to follow. • Co-ordinate the swimming Curriculum. programme across all schools. • More people will continue • Provide logistical support for schools, swimming as adults including transport. to keep fit.

13 14 Our Ambition: To actively promote the development of new facilities. Our Ambition: To increase participation levels by providing new artificial grass pitches. To achieve this we will… Over the next five years we will… If we do this… To achieve this we will… Over the next five years we will… If we do this… Work with clubs, • Compile a long-term plan for new • Gaps in provision will be filled. sponsors and benefactors sports facilities in the Island. • Jersey will have up-to-date Identify school and • Agree an island-wide plan to • Pitches can be used more often to identify requirements • Identify priorities or sports that facilities. community sites and install develop artificial grass pitches. and for longer. for major new facilities are not adequately served at the • Capital funding problems can artificial surfaces. • Invest £1.1 million in new • Capacity will expand to meet demand. for the Island. moment. Initial suggestions include be shared. facilities. a gymnastics venue, learn-to-swim • More people will be able to participate in pool and cycling velodrome. • Clubs and sports people will • Develop and manage new sites. football, hockey, be involved in the future of rugby and other sports. • Investigate opportunities for joint their sports. sites. • Maintenance costs will reduce. • Work with interested parties to • We will make better use of develop feasible projects. limited space.

15 16 4. PERSONAL BESTS

Our Ambition: To help Jersey’s top athletes achieve their best Our Ambition: To increase sports tourism and events. possible performances in local, national and international competitions. To achieve this we will… Over the next five years we will… If we do this… To achieve this we will… Over the next five years we will… If we do this… Develop a co-ordinated • Work with Economic Development to • Co-ordination of sports events Support clubs, teams and • Support preparations for the 2015 • Performance will improve and more programme of sustainable maximise the potential for promotion will improve. individuals, including those NatWest Island Games in Jersey. Jersey athletes will reach qualifying and well-organised sporting and sponsorship. • More events will be held standards. events that attract visiting with disabilities, to develop • Provide financial support for athletes • Establish a website for Jersey sport. bringing more economic benefit training programmes that • More Jersey athletes will win participants and spectators. to attend events. • Manage and update a calendar of to the Island. enable them to qualify competition and medals. events and contacts list to help • More promotion of Jersey for events including the • Support athletes on the High Performance Programme by providing • Athletes will become good role organisers. as a sport destination. , models for younger people. Natwest Island Games, services in conjunction with the • Provide more support for • Visitor numbers will increase One Foundation. • Jersey’s reputation event organisers. for sport events. Jeux des Isles and Youth will be enhanced. Commonwealth Games • Expertise will be shared.

17 18 Our Ambition: To have an all-Island overview of how to improve Our Ambition: To help sports clubs improve and work together. performance and participation. To achieve this we will… Over the next five years we will… If we do this… To achieve this we will… Over the next five years we will… If we do this… • Encourage clubs to draw • Launch and publicise the • Clubs will have better forward Develop a co-ordinated • Agree roles and co-ordinate • Sports Development Officers will up development plans Jersey Clubmark scheme to planning and higher standards programme of sport work of the existing Sports work with more young people. with long-term goals. ensure organisations are aware of governance. of good practice. development for schools, Development Officers . • A wider range of sports will have • Promote the Jersey • The public will have clear clubs and the community. • Provide extra funding for additional access to their expertise. Clubmark scheme, • Provide templates and assistance expectations. Sports Development Officers. • Standards will improve. especially for groups with forward planning. • Safety standards will improve. with junior sections. • Ensure co-ordination and best use • More young people will be • Continue to provide essential • More coaches will be trained. of resources. motivated to continue playing training and advice in first aid, child protection and other • Membership will increase • Develop closer links between sport after school, at coaching courses. • Performance will improve. schools and sports clubs. weekends and during the holidays. • Monitor standards.

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FUNDING AND INVESTMENT

The States invests approximately Sports centres £1.725 million £4 million a year in sport in Jersey. Playing fields & school sports £1.230 million In 2013 the funding is allocated to: Sport development £644,000

Grants £385,000

Total £3.984 million

To support the sport strategy FB Fields athletics track upgrade and £810,000 an extra £6 million will be facilities improvement spent on sport in the next Replacement artificial pitch at £650,000 two years: Les Quennevais Other capital projects including: • £4.5 million of this will be used to improve facilities in preparation for •New artificial pitch at Springfield the 2015 NatWest Island Games Improvements at Crabbe shooting ranges • £3 million and for use by the community Les Quennevais cycle track upgrade afterwards. • •Improvement of school, club and community facilities Contact us Total £4.5 million Education Sport and Culture Department, PO Box 142, Jersey, JE4 8QJ Telephone: 01534 445504 • £1.5 million of this Initiatives to promote participation: Email: [email protected] will be for initiatives to • Expansion of Exercise Referral 2014 £750,000 www.gov.je develop sport and increase • Strengthening school PE participation over the Photographs supplied by the Strengthening school swimming programmes next two years. • P4 diagram adapted from the UK Youth Sport Trust • Support for clubs and associations 2015 £750,000 • Support for sporting events

Total £1.5 million

21 EDUCATION, SPORT & CULTURE

FIT FOR THE FUTURE A FIVE-YEAR STRATEGY FOR SPORT AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN JERSEY 2014 - 2018

www.gov.je