SCL Background

School Club Link Background

The need to ensure young people have access to, and make good use of, a range of high quality sport and leisure activities is well documented, in government strategies and policies. It is not solely the responsibility of one organisation, and both schools and community sports clubs have been identified as key partners to encourage young people to participate in life-long sporting activities.

The national Public Service Agreement (PSA) to increase young peoples participation to 2 hours a week by 2008 (with the aspiration of 4 hours by 2010) has a sub target to increase the number of young people moving into quality junior sports clubs. This will be measured by the annual PESSCL (PE, School Sports and Club Links) survey.

In May 2006, the data from the PESSCL survey (collected through School Sports Partnerships) in Surrey reported that the number of young people attending one or more community sport or dance clubs was 29%; this was 2% above the national average. As part of our commitment to ensuring lifelong participation in sport, it is important that Surrey continues to improve and develop further opportunities for young people to access high quality sporting provision within their local community.

Consultation and delivery

This guide and toolkit has been developed by the Active Surrey Sports Partnership (the County Sports Partnership), in conjunction with the Surrey PESSCL group (which consists of the local education authority, directors of sport, Partnership Development Managers [PDMs], Healthy and Extended Schools and the Youth Sport Trust), Surrey Sports Governing Body Forum, as well as representatives from schools, coaches, clubs and Local Authorities.

It has been designed to enable the wide variety of links to be identified and supported. It provides both schools and clubs the means to create, develop and sustain effective links, as well as providing both parties with a better understanding of how to work with each other for the benefit of young people.

The toolkit aims to enhance the quality of existing and, future school club links, providing both parties with more clarity and useful resources to better plan, shape and initiate sporting links.

The guide and toolkit will be promoted to schools through School Sports Partnerships, (SSP) but will also be available through Surrey Extended Services Confederations and Surrey Healthy Schools.

The guide and toolkit will also be promoted to clubs through the Surrey Club Development Group, Surrey Sports Governing Body Forum, local authorities, Surrey Sports Development Officers Forum and Active Surrey Accredited Clubs.

The guide and toolkit will be regularly reviewed, with feedback encouraged throughout the delivery process. Case studies will be posted on www.activesurrey.com and copies may be forwarded to the Youth Sport Trust and Sport England.