HALTON ACCESS TO SPORTS FORUM

 

Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday April 11 at 7pm

Runcorn Town Hall

 

Attendance

Peter Fawcett                        Erica Brown                        Sharon Tisdale

Kieron Shannahan                Sue Lancaster                    George Ross

Christine Ross

 

Apologies

Margie Shannahan               Mike Fredson                     Lillian Hughes

 

Minutes of the last meeting

Accepted as a proper record

 

Matters arising

None

 

Come and Try it Day

This was a successful day.  There were more children than last time and it was enjoyed by all.  ST gave balls and T shirts away.  There were lots of activities and people generally stayed for the whole afternoon.  People were interested in further sessions, or even making it a regular event.  Areas for improvement:

  • Signs need to be put up to show people where to go
  • An action plan for the event would facilitate planning – write names by jobs
  • Permission for people to eat and drink in the sports hall would mean that they wouldn’t need to go away
  • No radio coverage prior to the event, though it had been promised
  • Basketball players should be asked to come as well as the coaches to demonstrate skills.  Need to show people how to use the wheelchairs.

 

Table tennis – W/C player playing to high standard – gives others ambition

 

Funding issues

The forum is applying to the Active Communities Development Fund for a grant to extend sport and leisure activities for both disabled and able bodied people – 13+ years.  £30 000 per year for 3 years.  GR and MF are going to a ‘funding clinic’ on 15.4.02 for help in completing the application.  We would like to have a session each week in Runcorn and Widnes, probably using Chestnut Lodge as the Widnes venue and combining with the Phab club that is already well established.  Grant would be used for coaching, overheads, transport and equipment.

 

A forward strategy

  • The constitution/terms of reference are under discussion
  • GR hopes to develop links with Runcorn anglers.
  • Development of Chestnut Lodge Phab club – ST to discuss provision of a range of ‘taster’ sessions with SL.  Extend ‘Come and Try it Day’ to multi-activity event at Chestnut Lodge to encourage growth of club and widen participation.  Replicate in Runcorn, possibly at Brookvale.

 

Any other business

Update on Brookvale changing rooms – walls just plastered, ST to ask about completion date.

 

Next meeting

Thursday 9 May at 7pm, Chesnut Lodge School