Community Sports & Physical Activity Networks
Community Sports & Physical Activity Networks
Community Sport and Physical Activity Networks - Statement of Common Purpose
The seven Community Sport and Physical Activity Networks (CSPAN) are an integral part of the sport and physical activity infrastructure in central London. Because of their importance to the partnership PRO-ACTIVE Central London produced this advocacy document that aims to:
- Ensure a common understanding of the CSPANs in central London.
- Ensure consistent messages about CSPANs to new and existing partners.
- Set out the common purpose that is at the heart of all seven CSPANs. This includes a description of:
• What a CSPAN is
• What a CSPAN is aiming to achieve
• Why the CSPAN is aiming to achieve that
• The benefits of the CSPAN.
What a CSPAN is
The seven central London CSPANs share the following characteristics:
- A CSPAN is a collective of partners working together to lead, plan and deliver sport and physical activity opportunities in that local area.
- A CSPAN covers the same geographical area as the local authority.
- Membership of a CSPAN includes a wide range of organisations from the local sport and physical activity public, voluntary and private sectors. The common membership includes:
• Different departments of the local authority
• Health care organisations e.g. Primary Care Trust
• Education organisations e.g. School Sport Partnerships
• Local facility providers
• Voluntary sector providers of sport and physical activity
• PRO-ACTIVE Central London.
- All of these organisations share an interest in what the CSPAN is trying to achieve.
What a CSPAN is aiming to achieve
Each CSPAN in central London is trying to achieve the following goals:
- Get more people more active more often
- Promote effective local pathways to encourage participation at the highest level
- Widen access to sport and physical activity opportunities
- Use sport and physical activity to contribute to the delivery of other local priorities and outcomes
Why the CSPAN is aiming to achieve that
- To improve the health and wellbeing of all sections of the local population through increasing physical activity levels that will:
• Reduce prevalence of obesity
• Increase life expectancy
• Improve wellbeing including:
• Greater personal fulfilment
• Fun and enjoyment
• Social interaction
• Sense of community.
- To improve local communities by contributing to other local priorities such as:
• Reduced crime and fear of crime
• Improved outcomes for children and young people
• Regeneration of local neighbourhoods.
- To help local sport and physical activity providers improve their service delivery.
The benefits of the CSPAN
The benefits of the CSPAN include:
- A shared vision, strategy and action plan for the improvement and growth of sport and physical activity that is based upon the needs of local communities.
- Leadership of a large and diverse sector at a local level.
- Reducing overlap, inefficiencies and gaps in the provision of sport and physical activity opportunities.
- Providing a vehicle through which commissioners can reach and invest in sport and physical activity providers in the local area to secure their desired outcomes.
- Securing the greatest possible return on local investment into sport and physical activity.
- Securing investment to deliver local interventions.
- Building greater capacity in organisations and the sport and physical activity workforce.
- Brokering partnerships between local partners.
- Supporting the delivery of local partner priorities and outcomes.
- A vehicle through which to communicate and reach the local sport and physical activity infrastructure.
- A collective voice to advocate the benefits of sport and physical activity.
Currently there are six CSPANs established in Central London:
- Pro-Active Islington
- Pro-Active Camden
- ProActive Southwark
- Active Wandsworth
- Active Westminster
- Kensington & Chelsea CSPAN
If you need further information on any of the Central London CSPANs please contact Angus Robertson - 020 7815 8751
