| It’s heartening to know that what Lochaber Sports Association is aiming to accomplish has already been successfully achieved by many other groups throughout Scotland. Similarly, these have been projects driven by enthusiastic and committed members of the community, all turning an ambitious dream into a rewarding reality. The requirement for, and value of this type of initiative has been recognised in several recent reports.
Here are a few quotes to give us courage and confidence…(If anyone comes across more, please email us!)
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“A Sporting Chance” – The SSA Manifesto The Scottish Sports Alliance has drawn up a Manifesto for Sport in Scotland, by which they seek to influence the Scottish Government both in the lead up to the Commonwealth Games and in the legacy thereafter. To see a copy of the manifesto, click here
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| “Scotland’s single need at local level is for multi-purpose sports centres” (The Scottish Sports Council’s document “Sport 2000” Section 4.101)
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| “Community led solutions will out-perform their public sector counterparts both in quality of service and in financial efficiency” (Carnegie Trust report, “Steps to Successful Community Led Service Provision in Rural Areas”, www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk)
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| “The existing policy on investment has tended to be based on taking opportunities where they arose and by supporting community initiatives when they come near to fruition.
Future priorities for investment could be based solely on the basis of a strategic analysis. However, it has always been the Council’s policy to support and encourage developments through community initiatives. Any new proposal should balance community initiative with identifying the areas most in need. The Highland Council also needs to seek and develop community initiative where priorities are identified.”
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| “It is clear that the assessment of future priorities will need to take into account…public aspirations and potential partnership projects” (Education Culture and Sport Committee of the Highland Council, dated 13.11.08 “Sports Facility Development Planning” www.highland.gov.uk)
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| “The benefits of leading an active lifestyle go far beyond physical fitness. From an education perspective, physical education and participation in sport offer children the chance to acquire social skills, enhance self-esteem and increase a sense of social responsibility. Indeed, it is also acknowledged that wider societal, environmental and economic benefits will be gained from getting the Scottish population more active.” (Health and Sport Committee – 5th Report 2009,www.scottish.parliament.uk)
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| “Across Scotland, the number of Scots participating in sports is declining and targets for young people’s participation are not being met” (Health and Sport Committee – 5th Report 2009, www.scottish.parliament.uk)
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| “…currently two thirds of adults and two thirds of teenage girls are inactive. It is therefore important that there is a link, or continuum, between PE, as part of the school curriculum, and extra-curricular activity and sport that takes place outside of school.” (Health and Sport Committee – 5th Report 2009, www.scottish.parliament.uk)
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| “It is uplifting to see the results that can be achieved when all parts of a local authority and other agencies work together to achieve a common goal.” (Health and Sport Committee – 5th Report 2009, www.scottish.parliament.uk)
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| “For a group to be successful: Commitment and overall community interest must be present within the group There must be a willingness to work as a team There is a requirement for everyone to be involved, not just make up numbers The group must be non-representative – group loyalty must be to overall need and objective must be paramount” (Carnegie Trust report, “Steps to Successful Community Led Service Provision in Rural Areas”, www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk)
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| “The case studies demonstrate that communities bring inventiveness, enthusiasm, passion and – given the right support – will out-perform their public sector counterparts both in service delivery and value for money” (Carnegie Trust report, “Steps to Successful Community Led Service Provision in Rural Areas”, www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk)
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| “The effect of having a vibrant, successful community-run project in the area is immeasurable” (Carnegie Trust report, “Steps to Successful Community Led Service Provision in Rural Areas”, www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk)
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| “The 2012 London Olympics and a 2014 Scottish Commonwealth Games, will provide a fantastic focus for young Scots athletes and inspire many others – young and old – to participate in sport. Now is the time for us to ensure that we use these opportunities to create a strong culture of sport for future generations”
Quote. Patricia Ferguson MSP, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport
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| “Sports clubs are key to encouraging people to make a lifelong commitment to sport but the quality and spread of clubs is variable. A focused approach to club development is considered essential and new innovative approaches should be developed such as developing multi sport clubs”
“Local Authorities will establish appropriate sports partnership working arrangements in conjunction with the local sports council, other key agencies and services and the voluntary and community sector, to help steer the development and implementation of strategic sports planning arrangements” “Local Authorities should continue to engage with their communities and ensure that this engagement is broad and inclusive” “It was identified that there is a need for increased support to be provided for club development and an innovative approach to be developed, such as multi-sport clubs. Clubs are central to our aspirations for sport. Building the capacity of sports clubs to recruit and develop their participants is critical to sustaining participation” (Scottish Executive Report – Reaching Higher 2007– building on the success of Sport 21) www.vds.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/reachinghigher.pdf
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| “The challenge facing all those engaged in delivering public services is how to achieve better quality for service users and better value for the taxpayer. Social enterprises can provide a positive alternative for public services. They can deliver multiple outcomes and add value through combining a public service ethos with an entrepreneurial drive and business approach; fostering a culture of innovation and efficiently joining-up and improving services which are developed in response to community need.” (“How Social Enterprises Can Deliver for Scotland” www.ssec.org.uk)
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| Included in the “Healthier” objectives of the Lochaber Community Development Plan, “Listening To Our Communities” (www.highland.gov.uk): 3 Jointly promote opportunities for increased physical activity for children & young people 5 Encourage the adoption & participation of healthier life choices by providing enhanced locally based initiatives 6 Further develop innovative services and initiatives targeted at 12-18 yr olds which support and encourage healthy development into adulthood 7 Provide services which support older people to continue and enjoy engagement in activities that promote their well-being Included in the “Safer and Stronger” objectives of the Lochaber Community Development Plan, “Listening To Our Communities”: Included in the “Safer and Stronger” objectives of the Lochaber Community Development Plan, “Listening To Our Communities”: In order to “Strengthen the image of Lochaber as a tourist destination of choice, and improve the quality of the tourism offering locally”, HIE aim to: In order to “Jointly promote opportunities for increased physical activity for |