Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of main Issues

1.1       To advise Committee of progress with the Stadia Community Benefits Initiative and update on the action plan.

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

·        Consider the content of the report.

3.0       Main report

3.1       The Council has been undertaking the Leisure Transformation Programme to renew its Leisure facilities across the City. This Programme has been influenced by the Partnership opportunities presented by the NI Executive Stadia Programme.

3.2       The Council, Department for Communities (DfC) and the Irish Football Association (IFA) have recognised the opportunities presented by the Stadia Programme, have committed to work together to maximise these benefits, and have agreed to establish a Stadium Community Benefits Initiative as part of the Belfast Community Benefits Initiative (‘the Project’) to implement and deliver agreed objectives including promoting equality, tackling poverty, and tackling social exclusion within the Belfast area.

3.3       In March 2016 the Council, DfC and IFA signed an agreement which sets out their respective commitments to the project. As other major stadia are developed in Belfast it is anticipated that other sports governing bodies shall become parties to the agreement. At its April 2018 meeting People and Communities committee agreed that Council would work with the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) within the Stadia Community Benefits Initiative and recognised their significant planned investment in gaelic games in the city to support their Gaelfast strategy. It is anticipated that gaelic games programmes will be fully incorporated into the action plan in the next financial year and that GAA representatives will join the governance structure at Delivery Board and Policy and Performance Board level.

3.4       The agreement is for a period of ten years with financial commitment from Council and IFA in place to the end of March 2026. Delivery is managed through monthly meetings of the Delivery Board which reports quarterly to the Policy and Performance Board. Financial and performance reports will be presented to Council and other partners’ Boards as necessary. Formal review of the agreement will be carried out in years 5 and 10.

3.5       The Policy & Performance Group is responsible for agreeing the Benefits Realisation Plan and associated annual targets. Work was undertaken to ensure the end benefits/outcomes are aligned to partners’ strategies. To measure the progress of this the Council and the IFA have developed a range of indicators/intermediate benefits which are monitored through programme delivery:

·        Number of coaching sessions provided

·        Number of coaches engaged in delivering coaching

·        Number of sessions improving club governance

·        Number of volunteering opportunities

·        Participation opportunities for under 16s

·        Female participation rates

·        Number of people completing skills development programme

·        Number of sessions for under-represented groups

·        Number of sessions for school and youth groups

·        Community group usage of stadia

·        Number of clubs attaining club-mark

·        Educational opportunities

·        Number of programmes targeting ASB

·        Improved collaborative working

·        Number of disabled participants

·        Number of older people participating

3.6       Following the completion of a baseline assessment in early 2017, an annual work-plan was developed for year 1(17-18), with programme delivery commencing in April 2017. The annual plan for year 1 featured 19 projects ranging from volunteer conferences to setting up new disability sections within existing clubs. The 2017-2018 programme created participation opportunities for under-presented groups: 2267(U16’s), 421(females), 263(older people) and 86(people with disabilities). This included the delivery of: 132 coaching sessions, education/skill development programmes (884 educational opportunities and 52 skill development opportunities) and 23 community events/tours at the Stadium.

3.7       Programme delivery for year 2(18-19) is currently under-way including similar programmes as last year, with additional support this year given to female development and street soccer. This has demonstrated an increase in female participation opportunities 648 (18-19, quarter 2 update) compared to annual figure of 421 female participation opportunities in year 17-18. The inclusion of the street soccer programme has helped to enhance our collaborative working and engage in the delivery of more ASB programmes compared to last year, including more ASB programmes targeting females. 

3.8       At the end of quarter 2, the performance report for 2018-19 indicates that the majority of intermediate benefits are on target, with the exception of a small lag against 3 intermediate benefits (number of sessions for under-represented groups, ASB programmes and educational opportunities). The board received satisfactory assurance that these benefits would be caught up in quarter 3 and 4. Quarter 1 & 2 (18-19).

3.9       Olympia Leisure Centre (phase C) was officially opened on 21 June 2018. This has enabled the delivery of more community events and coaching programmes at the National Football Stadium. This has demonstrated an increase coaching sessions provided through the programme 182(18-19, quarter 2 update) compared to annual figure of 132 (17-18). Also this new facility has resulted in a noticeable increase in school/community group usage of the stadium, creating 93 community usage opportunities (18-19 quarter 2 update) compared to annual figure of 77 community usage opportunities (17-18).

3.10      Finance and Resource Implications

            In accordance with the Council’s obligations under its DfC Funding Agreement for the Olympia Regeneration Project, the Council has committed a sum of £100,000 per annum for a minimum of ten years, so that a minimum of £1,000,000 is contributed in total to the Project.

            Council’s contribution has been targeted at football in year 1 and year 2 delivery. As the Partnership develops Council’s contribution will be allocated proportionally across the planned programmes according to their respective contributions and outcomes.

3.11      Equality or Good Relations Implications/Rural Needs Assessment

            There are no known implications.”

The Committee noted the update.