Satellite Clubs Update Year 1


The Satellite clubs programme is a key part of Sport England’s Youth and Community Sports Strategy 2012-17 and aims to undertake transformational change in the way that young people are supported from school, college and other relevant settings into community sport creating a sporting habit for life.


As part of our Year 1 delivery plan activity has and will take place in over 20 schools across the county which is double our year 1 target. The sessions range from sports such as Wheelchair Basketball and Athletics to Football and Rugby. Many of you may not know that some of the delivery on your school sites from local clubs or National Governing Bodies of Sport has been supported by the Sport England Satellite Clubs (Club Link Maker) Programme.


We are still working with Cricket, Tennis, Golf plus other governing bodies around


developing clubs in schools that have expressed an interest for delivery in the summer term and will be in touch ourselves or through the National Governing Body to progress these.


Wiltshire and Swindon Sport and National Governing Bodies have funding to help develop local clubs capacity and ability to support the development of closer links with local schools. Therefore I would be really pleased to help if you want to find out more and discuss potential plans and demand from local young people.


Also for more information please check out the page on our website www. wiltssport.org.uk/club-development/ satellite-clubs


Contact Simon Woodhouse on 01380 725111 or email on Simon@wiltssport.org.uk.


Swindon Shock Wheelchair Basketball Club Changing lives through wheelchair basketball Satellite Club held at Commonweal School


Why did you as a club want to be part of the Satellite Club Programme? What were your motivations?


We are an ambitious club that wants to give more young people the benefits of being part of our club. We currently have our own national league team and an u19 team in partnership with Cardiff Celts. We would like to develop our portfolio of teams and create an u15s team and our own u19s team. To achieve this we need to recruit more players with a disability. We see links with schools as a vital part of this promotion and recruitment process. The exit route for these satellite club sessions is Swindon Shock WBC sessions. We see developing a satellite club as a way of ensuring the sustainability of the club in terms of finding new players, coaches and committee members.We wanted to set up a school / club link with Commonweal School as it has a dedicated unit for children with a physical impairment.


Most children with a physical disability in Swindon attend this school, so it’s a natural partner school for our club. Indeed, many of


10 Wiltshire and Swindon Relay


our existing players once attended Commonweal School and we wanted to formalise this link so we can work more closely with the school. We also have a number of young leaders and new L1 coaches in the club that need to gain experience and these after school satellite club sessions will provide the perfect setting to develop their coaching skills.


Who are your partners and what did they provide – support, investment etc?


Partners involved in this project are GB Wheelchair Basketball, Wiltshire and Swindon Sport (WASP - CSP), Commonweal School, Swindon Borough Council and Swindon Shock Wheelchair Basketball Club. Obviously funding is essential for these projects to start – we have received grants from GB Wheelchair Basketball and WASP through the Satellite Club Programme. Swindon Shock are contributing with in-kind co-ordination costs. Commonweal School is providing the hall at no cost and storage for the sports wheelchairs. The majority of the sports wheelchairs used are owned


by WASP and are on loan. Swindon Borough Council let the club use some of their sports wheelchairs and other equipment (balls, tripod hoops etc).


What is your exit strategy? How will you look to implement this in year 3 and 4?


Athlete exit strategies are the ongoing club training sessions and league teams. We hope to create a long lasting link with this school which will be sustained past Yr3 of the project. We have a history of successful grant applications and also good links with corporates in Swindon to help fund projects we believe in.


Would you look to develop further sites?


Yes, we would like to explore the possibility of creating something similar at New College in Swindon.


Are you happy with the programme?


Yes – although only 4 months into delivery, we feel the project is working and feedback from students, school staff and parents has all been positive. I am particularly pleased by solving the equipment and storage barriers. WASP our local CSP, has lent the Club 12 sports wheelchairs and Commonweal School has made some storage space available. Without these solutions the club would have spent £1000’s on chair transportation and 100’s of man hours in loading / unloading and travelling.


If interested contact Ben Humphrey


Swindon Shock Club Chairman on 07815776593 or email BHumphrey@swindon.gov.uk.


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