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Derbyshire Village Games project is underway

26 July 2010

A team of Co-ordinators and a Coach and Volunteer Development Officer will support villages in Amber Valley, Bolsover, Derbyshire Dales, High Peak, North East Derbyshire and South Derbyshire to start new sports clubs and activities and host festivals and competitions.

They will work with village groups, sports clubs, and keen individuals to set up a variety of activities to help people get more active on their doorstep.

Hayley Lever, Project Manager for the Village Games, said: “We have just completed the induction of seven superb development workers who will be there to help get new activities going. The team work full time and are keen to hear from people living or working in villages that would like to get involved.”

The project has been developed by the Community Sports Trust, a social enterprise (not for profit company), which supports grassroots sport across Derbyshire.

Funding was secured from the Rural Communities Fund, which was launched after Sport England research revealed that two thirds of the local authorities with the lowest sports participation rates are in rural areas, and additional funding has also been secured from a wide range of local partners.

The project aims to harness the excitement of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by offering the right activities in the right places to increase participation, and the Village Games team will be working towards the sustainability of the project beyond the three years of funding.

The project has also recently been awarded the Inspire Mark – the badge of the London 2012 Inspire Programme, which recognises innovative and exceptional projects that are directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Contact details for all of the Village Games team and more details about the project can be found at www.villagegames.org.uk (opens in a new window).