Be Active - The Beginning

A targeted approach

The Be Active Leisure Inclusion Project is working towards a safer, healthier and more active community by improving leisure participation opportunities in Babergh, South Suffolk. The project aims to support vulnerable social groups, in particular youths at risk of offending and people with disabilities.

Babergh is a largely rural and prosperous District in the southern part of Suffolk, which borders Ipswich and the county of Essex. The District has a population of approximately 84,000. It covers an area of 230 square miles and contains several small towns and villages which still retain much of their original outstanding character.

Clear Leadership and Vision

Babergh’s vision is to provide community leadership which recognises that everybody matters and which encourages and supports strong and inclusive communities. The Be Active Leisure Inclusion Project was set up to support this vision in 2002, as an 18 month pilot scheme. This was a collaborative venture including key local stakeholders including the Babergh Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership, Community Energy Project, Suffolk County Council and Babergh District Council.

The pilot scheme had such a positive impact on peoples lives that Babergh decided to mainstream the funding and continue expanding the project in 2004. Since 2004 the Project has managed to engage hard to reach community groups and continues to help change attitudes towards social inclusion through its leisure service.

Outcomes

The Be Active Leisure Inclusion Project supports four out of five of Babergh District Councils corporate priorities;

• · Promote healthy living and reduce health inequalities
• · Maintain a safe, clean and sustainable environment
• · Give easy, convenient access to quality public services
• · Raise individual and community ambitions and encourage active citizenship.

achieved the following outcomes in 2005/06;

• 46 disability/disaffected activity courses
• 341 registered participants on disability/disaffected activities
• 630 disability attendances
• 522 disaffected youth attendances
• 8 local club activity taster courses
• 3 new inclusive leisure clubs
• 46 hours qualified coaching to schools with additional needs
• 100 hours specialised coaching to local clubs
• 18 new volunteers
• 15 new coaches
• 3 people with disability achieved coaching qualifications
• 9 coaches gained disability specific qualifications
• 12 excluded pupils provided with positive participation opportunities
• 12 Anti-Social Behaviour Referrals engaged through active citizenship mentoring programme (10 have not re-offended)
• 50 disabled people attended IFI site 2005/06. 25 have been inducted in Gym, following which 85 further visits have been made.
• Supported East Bergholt IFI projects achievement of 8% increase in usage by disabled people (amongst the highest nationally - target of 4%).

and achieved the following outcomes in 2006/07;

• 565 registered course attendances (including 260 disabled attendances)
• 327 individual participants (including 111 individual disabled participants)
• Supported 4 Police referrals for young people ‘at risk of offending'
• Established 12 new inclusive clubs
• Provided 234 hours of qualified inclusive coaching (60 hours within schools & 174 hours within community/clubs).
• Supported 6 new coaches through coach mentoring programme.
• Enabled 13 new disability coach qualifications.
• Project intervention within Gt. Cornard reduced anti-social behaviour reports by 93% in targeted neighbourhood.
• Reduced anti-social behaviour police reports by 100% in targeted area during periods of summer activity.
• Generated over £55k of external funding support + an additional £52k to enable best practice dissemination through Beacon Scheme.

The future

The Be Active Leisure Inclusion Project continues to change and evolve with partnership support to meet community needs. Exploring the arts as a mechanism for engaging vulnerable members of society is a priority for 2007/08 - as the project continues its search for new ways to improve and develop the service.

We intend to continue working to turn disadvantaged people’s lives around in meaningful ways, to provide opportunity and increase life choices and chances.