Opinions required for new sports strategy

Wednesday 13 June 2018

The Committee for Education, Sport & Culture is seeking your views on sport and activity in Guernsey, to help deliver a 'Plan for Sport'.

Following a debate last year, it was agreed to develop a 'comprehensive Sports Strategy by July 2019', including outlining the funding needed to implement it and as such a public consultation has now been launched.

The Plan for Sport consultation takes the form of a wide-ranging questionnaire regarding sport and physical activity in Guernsey. The questions have been put together with input from the Guernsey Sports Commission and health professionals and are set around five broad themes: 

The aim of the overall project is to improve the health and wellbeing of people while enhancing Guernsey's reputation internationally. The consultation marks the start of the Committee’s work on a new strategy for Guernsey sport, as directed by the States last year. It wants to hear from people who are involved in sport and activity, but also those who aren’t; specifically on what more can be done to use sport to help improve lives.

Clubs and associations are also being contacted to provide direct feedback from their members.

Pictured: Footes Lane

Deputy Matt Fallaize, President of the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture, said: "Sport and general physical activity offer many benefits to people’s lives and our community as a whole. And that’s not just in terms of physical health – but in other areas such as self-confidence and belief, mental health and a sense of well-being and community. We want to make sure that sports and physical activity opportunities in the island give everyone – no matter what their ability is – the chance to take part. This consultation is designed for every single member of our community to have a voice – whether they are already physically active, or struggle to get enthusiastic about sport in general."

While the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture will lead the development of a plan for sport, it is intended to be an overarching strategy for the island with  numerous health and wellbeing benefits and the ability to enhance Guernsey’s reputation on the national and international stage. As such, the Committee said it will work collaboratively with colleagues across the States and non-government organisations. 

Pictured: Deputy Fallaize

Deputy Fallaize said: "A plan for sport will support and complement a range of existing States strategies, such as the Committee for Health & Social Care’s “Partnership of Purpose”, which has a clear focus on prevention rather than treatment. Through this consultation, individuals, clubs and associations will have the opportunity to put forward their own perspectives on what will make sport and physical activity more accessible and appealing, as well as providing us with a snapshot of what the true picture is currently. The Committee wants to ensure any funding and other resource needs are identified, and are then targeted at encouraging islanders to get involved in sport and activity in some shape or form."

"I am hopeful the Committee will be in a position to publish its “Plan for Sport” by the end of the year, ready for debate by the States in early 2019."

Members of the public can access the individual questionnaire via gov.gg/sportstrategy. Paper and large print copies of the survey are available to collect from Beau Sejour Leisure Centre.

Clubs and Associations will be contacted separately by the Guernsey Sports Commission.

The public consultation will run until Sunday 22 July, with the Committee aiming to release the initial consultation responses by the end of October.