Sport millions not inspiring city folk

Throwing millions at Wolverhampton couch potatoes is still not encouraging them to take up sport, says a damning new report.

With participation in sport showing Wolverhampton and the Black Country as bottom of a national league table, the Black Country Sports Board chairman is pulling out all the stops to get more funding and encourage more interest.

Cllr Phil Bateman said: "Over £30m of Sport England Lottery funding has already been invested in the Black Country for both capital and revenue projects to increase participation in sport.

"Yet here in the Black Country we are still bottom of the national league for sporting activity, being 49th out of 49 sporting areas in England.

"It's clear that the investment made has not resulted in a large increase in participation in sport here.

"There is now, however, a different and more focused plan and delivery system being developed which will mean a more proactive and strategic approach to grant making, in order to bring high quality bids forward for our sub region.

"The Sports Board, together with the Black Country Consortium, will be putting together a portfolio of high quality bids for new funding on offer.

"The funding available is anticipated to be valued at up to £2.5m.

"Officers of the Sports Board will have their work cut out in formulating the portfolio and the bid, as the timescale is tight for submission."

Cllr Bateman said that he believed the Sports Board's big challenge was to increase participation in Sport and active recreation by a minimum of one per cent year on year, increase the percentage of qualified people volunteering in sport and active recreation, and the percentage at NVQ level 4.

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