§ Dr. Jack CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made by the sports action zone in West Cumbria; what targets have been reached; what new investment has taken place; what the projects involved are; and if he will make a statement. [16969]
§ Mr. CabornA needs assessment and action plan for the zone was approved by Sport England's lottery panel in October 2001. This provides the framework for action over the next five years and contains 28 tasks/projects to be delivered in year 1 which will improve health, education and employment prospects for communities in the districts of Allerdale, Barrow and Copeland.
In addition sport action zone (SAZ) magnet funding of £99,313 has been awarded by Sport England to employ three "active living" posts in Barrow. These posts aim 535W to promote and increase the amount of physical activity accessed by socially excluded groups and ensure that the community has a direct influence over the co-ordination and future planning of sport and activity in Barrow. They will work in partnership with Health Promotion in Barrow, Age Concern and the Barrow Sport Development team. The project will target groups such as young men, young women and middle aged to older adults, aiming to promote better health, preventive measures for chronic health conditions and reduce teenage pregnancies. Further partnership funding of £282,629 has been obtained to develop bids for the magnet fund. A further £282, 629 has been secured from funding organisations including: NW single regeneration budget; Youth Justice Board; Home Office; South Whitehaven single regeneration budget; neighbourhood renewal fund in Barrow; West Cumbria Council for Voluntary Service; sure start; youth works; Cumbria county council; health action zone; West Cumbria local health group; which has enabled an additional £136,813 to be accessed from the magnet fund.
A sport for health manager has also been appointed for West Cumbria to promote the benefits of sport and physical activity on health to organisations such as local health groups and Age Concern. Projects that are being developed in partnership with health related organisations include promotion of the Walking for Health initiative to tourist boards, developing cardiac rehabilitation phase 4 centres and enhancing a GP referral scheme in Copeland.
Other initiatives include the first rural youth works programme for 8 to 25-year-olds aimed at reducing crime in one of Copeland's worst affected areas, the development of a sport and physical activity directory for the zone, and the development of a programme of "speedway" taster sessions to encourage young people to have access to safe places to ride. A successful Home Office funded programme of summer activities for young people in Barrow took place this year involving partnership between Age Concern, the Barrow Youth Inclusion project and Barrow Amateur Swimming Club. A survey is currently taking place in Barrow to ascertain current sport/physical activity participation levels.