18,000 kids in Cumbria inspired to play sport by London 2012

27th July 2010

9,323 young people in Cumbria who don't normally play sport outside of school lessons have made a change and completed 10-week sports courses in their own time, new figures released this month reveal.

Eddie Edge, Partnership Director at Cumbria Sport Partnership said:

"When you compare these figures with the target given to us from Sport England we are 431 over which is really encouraging as we enter year three of Sport Unlimited. Our year three target is 4446 and were anticipating 8,500 which is a real insight to how successful the programme is here in Cumbria also a huge credit to the co-ordinators at delivery level."

Cumbria were selected by Sport England to Trailblaze the Programme before being rolled out nationally. This year Cumbria Sport Partnership generated an additional £113,000 from local partners to support the Sport England funding of £162,000.

The courses, part of Sport England's Sport Unlimited programme, have been completed by 73,591 young people in the NW in only two years,  - demonstrating how Sport England is helping youngsters in Cheshire, Warrington, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancaster and Merseyside to make a positive change in their lives. Across England, half a million youngsters have completed courses.

Encouragingly, researchers found that nationally two in five youngsters are continuing to play sport afterwards - in clubs and with their friends.

The Minister for Sport and the Olympics, Hugh Robertson MP, said:

"Sport Unlimited is going from strength to strength, encouraging hundreds of thousands of young people to try sport.

"One of my top priorities is to ensure that we deliver a sporting legacy from the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This scheme is part of that, inspiring a new generation of children to get out there and take part, no matter what their age or ability."

Sport Unlimited is aimed at youngsters who are not yet playing regular sport in the community and is boosting participation by giving them the freedom to choose the sports on offer. The most popular sports for boys include boxing, midnight basketball and free running. For girls, it's fencing, gymnastics and badminton.

Sport Unlimited is playing a key role in delivering a lasting participation legacy from the Games. The Sport Unlimited programme has been awarded the Inspire Mark by London 2012 - recognising the impact it is having on young people.

Emma Martin, Marketing & Communications Officer at Cumbria Sport Partnership, said:
"Cumbria were the first in the country to have our Sport Unlimited Programme recognised been London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and granted the Inspire Mark. With less than two years to go until 2012 is more important than ever to recognise the great work that is going on right here in Cumbria."

Richard Lewis, Sport England's Chair, said:
"Finding your sport and developing a love for it at a young age is an important step towards continuing participation when you're older. Through Sport Unlimited, Sport England is making sport appeal to more youngsters in the North West by giving them the freedom to choose the sports they play. London 2012 is just around the corner so there has never been a better time to get out and get active."