Multi-sport scheme launched in Birmingham
Rowing is set to play a key part in a new community sports project at Edgbaston Reservoir, which was officially launched on Sunday.
The three-year project, which has received £63,466 of National Lottery Funding from Sport England’s Community Activation Fund, will see the introduction of free weekly multi-sport activities in Birmingham, including rowing, jogging, cycling and canoeing.
A large crowd of locals joined local authority representatives, sporting partners and Edgbaston Watersports on Sunday to formally launch the Active Parks Project.
Under bright sunshine and a cloudless sky, adults and children got the chance to get involved in a variety of sports including Canoeing, Rowing, Running and Cycling all free of charge.
The sessions will now run every Sunday morning, from 10:30-11:30am, and will remain free for Birmingham residents.
British Rowing will be working in partnership with Birmingham City Council, Birmingham Public Health, the Canal & River Trust, Canoe England and Run England to deliver the pilot project, which aims to tackle the barriers to participation in the area.
“It is hoped that the sessions will inspire individuals to continue to participate in their chosen activities at one of the many local sports clubs that are based at the Reservoir,” said British Rowing’s Chris Farrell.
The project will run until June 2016, providing free one-hour, multi-sport, family-based activities once a week for 40 weeks per year – beginning with ‘come and try it’ introductory sessions for the first year, and expending to additional activities in the second and third years.
“We’re very grateful to Sport England and the National Lottery,” said Birmingham City Cllr Steve Bedser. “We’ve seen through our Be Active scheme that removing the cost barrier to sports participation can be hugely successful, and this funding will enable us to offer a fantastic range of outdoor activities free of charge.”
Find out more about about Edgbaston Reservoir’s Active Parks Project at www.facebook.com/ActiveEdgbaston.
For more information about Sport England’s Community Sport Activation Fund, visit www.sportengland.org/funding/our-different-funds/community-sport-activation-fund.
