The CSP Network are delighted to announce that all 43 CSPs have secured further investment from Sport England to continue their coordination of the successful Satellite Club programme. Launched in 2013, the Satellite Club programme aims to inspire and engage young people to take part in sport and physical activity by creating a ‘bridge’ between school and community sport.
Between 2019-21 CSPs will engage with more than 50,000 young people through satellite clubs, with:
- 55% of participants targeted being female, whilst almost 2% won’t identify with either gender.
- 19% of participants will have a disability/long-term limiting illness.
- 33% of participants will be from BAME groups.
- 40% of delivery will be targeted within the 20% most deprived areas in England according to Indices of Multiple Deprivation.
This will build on the work that has taken place over the last 18-months, where CSPs have been working hard with local partners to evolve the Satellite Club programme to reach a wider audience with a focus on under-represented groups using local insight and behaviour change principles to better understand young people’s motivations, barriers and preferences. CSPs are thinking outside of the box in terms of identifying and working with a wider network of local delivery partners and the results are already having a significant impact on engaging a wider audience and reaching harder-to-reach young people.
Lee Mason, CEO at CSP Network said:
“We are really pleased that Sport England have continued to invest in CSPs through the Satellite Club programme to make a real difference to getting young inactive people, especially from under-represented groups more active. The results so far speak for themselves and we are looking forward to seeing how the involvement of non-traditional local delivery partners helps to realise the ambitions of the Satellite Club programme as well as contribute to the wider priorities of CSPs”
Two great examples of how CSPs have successfully worked with partners and used the satellite programme to engage hard to reach inactive young people are shown below.
CSW – Working with Schools to increase activity levels of Muslim girls
CSW Sport engaged with Eden Girls Islamic Faith School in Coventry as part of the satellite club initiative. Eden Girls is located within one of the 10% most deprived wards Nationally. Consultation with the PE teacher indicated that very few of the girls were taking part in any sport other than compulsory PE lessons.
Students identified the need for girls-only activities, held after school at a time that did not clash with prayers, school and home commitments. Swimming came out as the most popular activity in surveys undertaken. CSW Sport therefore instigated the establishment of a Swimming satellite club aimed at these female students.
The Head of Sport at Eden Girls Islamic Faith School said “
The swimming satellite club is having an incredible impact on our students. The club has given students the opportunity to learn a fundamental skill that will stay with them for life. Students have progressed from never stepping foot into a swimming pool to having the confidence to perform handstands in the water and swim confidently. It’s so nice to see at our awards assembly when students receive certificates for their accomplishments in swimming; this is something that wouldn’t be able to happen if we weren’t lucky enough to have the satellite club in place.”
Leap - Activity on your terms
Leap worked with Wycombe Youth Action (WYA) an organisation that provides unique services and projects to reduce social exclusion of young people, building their hopes and aspirations, confidence and skills.
Leap supported WYA to set up a satellite club in the youth club aimed at girls and young women attending a weekly session. This enabled them to widen their offer to include physical activity and the satellite club could widen provision into a deprived ward with a high proportion of 14 to 19 year olds.
Girls who attend the youth group are from a variety of cultures and background and some also report having a disability and low levels of mental health.
Yasmin Harris Project Officer for WAY reported
“this project has proven to be successful to the girls and we have achieved our aims with the girls learning social skills, healthy lifestyles and team building”
Further Information
An evaluation report of Satellite Clubs by Substance in 2017 demonstrated the significant value and impact of the work and commitment by CSPs and local partners to inspire and engage young people into sport as the initial target of 5,000 clubs had been doubled. Furthermore, an impressive 564,059 participants had attended against an original target of 300,000 with an engagement rate of nearly 90%.
To find out more about Satellite Clubs in your local area please contact your county sports partnership whose details can be found on the CSP Network website http://www.activepartnerships.org/your-csp
For more Information on Satellite Clubs please visit Sport England https://www.sportengland.org/our-work/children-and-young-people/satellite-clubs/
For more information on the CSP Network please contact Nicki Couzens ncouzens@cspnetwork.org
