Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1        To advise committee on delivery of Sport NI’s investment programme called Everybody Active 2020 Strand 4. Sport NI approved an amount of £183,018 for delivery of the programme in Belfast to the end of March 2018. This allowed Council to offer small grants in Belfast to support the existing Everybody Active participation programme currently being delivered by our range of preferred partners.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        Note the significant level of uptake of this scheme which enhances participation opportunities in Belfast with specific focus on females, people with disabilities and people living in areas of high social need.

·        Approve continued delivery of the Everybody Active Strand 4 programme by the Leisure Development Unit to 31 March 2020, subject to funding being approved for release from Sport NI.

3.0       Main report

            Sport NI programme

3.1       Sport NI has commissioned Belfast City Council, along with the other Council areas, to deliver the participation strand of Every Body Active 2020. The aim of the programme is to increase quality opportunities for targeted groups to develop and sustain participation in sport across key life-course transitions. Specific targets for each of the Strands of the Programme will be confirmed by Sport NI.

3.2       Through Strand 4 of the Every Body Active Programme, Sport NI has offered Belfast City Council £183,018 with approximately £15,000 of this supporting a part time temporary grants assistant post. This programme allows Council to enhance the sustainability of participation alongside the existing Everybody Active Opportunities Programme which has been developed to support the objectives of the Belfast Agenda. Our existing Everybody Active Programme has specific targets which identify women and girls, people with a disability and people living in areas of high social need as priority. Participation evidence highlights disparities and inequalities within those sectors. We have commissioned a blend of providers through a public process who are successfully developing and delivering programmes which prioritise participation for our target groups.

3.3       Design of Belfast’s Strand 4 programme has ensured complementary benefits linked to other investments including Belfast City Council’s existing Support for Sport small grants. An anticipated programme titled EBA 2020 Strand 2 Workforce Development will further improve the outcomes within the Belfast Agenda. The small grants scheme has prioritised support to groups which can deliver programmes in support of our prioritised Everybody Active 2020 Strand 1 programmes as listed below.

            Programme Delivery against Targets

3.5       As a result of an open call for applications which closed on Friday 17th November. A total of 67 applications were received and 65 of these were successful. These applications leave an under allocation of £32,982.

3.6       The table below indicates the performance of the grant scheme against the Programme’s Key Performance Indicator targets as set by Sport NI.

3.7       Whilst application for the programme have significantly exceeded the target in the first three KPIs, applications have not achieved the target for participation by people with a disability/long term illness. The scheme will reopen with immediate effect with applications being sought specifically from groups demonstrating an ability to work with people with a disability/long term illness.

3.8       Financial and Resource Implications

            In the 2017 – 2018 financial year Sport NI has offered £183,018 for this scheme. Approved awards indicate an under allocation of £32,982. By reopening applications for groups which will increase participation for people with disabilities/lifelong illnesses, it is envisaged that this finance will be fully allocated by year end.

3.9       Equality or Good Relations Implications

            The programme is an opportunity for the Council to deliver against its equality and good relations objectives.  These would be integrated into the performance frameworks for provider.”

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.