Celebrating the power of sport

October 14, 2009

Sport England Logo Nominations are now open for the BBC Power of Sport Award, supported by Sport England – an opportunity to celebrate grassroots sporting projects that have really changed people’s lives.

The prestigious award is being contested in all 12 BBC regions for the first time.

This is a great chance to showcase inspirational projects – large or small – that involve a recognised sport. Entries can be submitted by projects themselves, participants or by governing bodies, local authorities and county sports partnerships.

So if you know about a project that demonstrates the power of sport to make a real difference to individuals and communities, please get behind it and send in an entry.

This is an award that will recognise sustainable projects that have increased the number of people taking part, as well as those that are tackling some of the issues facing grassroots sport, including:

* the drop-off in participation after school age
* under-represented groups such as disabled people, black and minority ethnic groups, women and older people
* communities with poor access to sport.

The award has already been run successfully in the West Midlands for two years. Last year’s winner was Active Meadowlands, a project which has transformed the sporting opportunities on offer in a disadvantaged area of Coventry which previously had no outdoor sports provision.

"Sport is a powerful social force in our communities, helping to improve and inspire people to achieve great things,” said BBC English Regions Controller, David Holdsworth. “The BBC is delighted to be associated with this award, and looks forward to sharing some of the stories with our audiences on TV, radio and online."

Entry forms can be found on the BBC website and completed forms should be emailed to [email protected] or posted to Gill Thompson, Power of Sport Award, BBC Birmingham, The Mailbox, Birmingham, B1 1AY.

Entries must be received by 13:00 on Monday 2 November 2009.

An independent judging panel will assess the entries for each region and select a winner, which will be announced on the relevant BBC local radio and regional television programmes in late November and early December. Presentations will be made at BBC regional sports award events where they are taking place.