Project:
Consultant services to Football Foundation supported 3G FTP and changing facility project
Delivery:
Replacement of existing sand based astro pitch with 3G FTP surface and supporting ancillary changing facilities, compliant for school usage during curriculum activities (larger class sizes).
Support:
The project required specific support for development of key partnerships, programme of use and appropriate wider resident engagement to enhance usage and link with Sport England’s new vision – Uniting the Nation. Key partnerships were created with 2 local clubs as well as Huddersfield Town’s Foundation and West Riding County FA to provide programmes to support adult participation, disability provision and diversionary activities for young people.
Consultation in conjunction with the school provided insight into activities the local community wished to engage with; low-cost adult 11 v 11 access, veterans football (over 40s), walking football (50+), provision for mental health and wellbeing twilight sessions and a robust curriculum and post curriculum sport offer for pupils was paramount to gain support for the project.
Combined with the need to provide suitable, appropriately sized changing facilities near to the pitch will support not only school usage but that of match play opportunities for local teams. Additionally, as part of the development of partner club relationships, a local club will now be utilising on-site natural turf pitches for some weekend match play usage – a specific and urgent requirement to allow their club to development and become more sustainable in the long term.
Outcomes:
2 partner clubs engaged and confirmed with high levels of training and match play usage (including ancillary facilities), along with local professional club foundation programmes.
Structured programmes directly linking to wider sport strategies including Uniting the Nation as well as significant impact on local football development outcomes for both clubs and West Riding County FA, delivering key targeted aspects of local plans whilst assisting to meet the local need for additional, accessible, affordable facilities.
Approximate value of project: £750,000 (TBC)
