THE work of charitable trusts to improve the health of the nation was recognised at a unique awards event in Sheffield last week.
At the ceremony hosted by BBC sports presenter Andrew Cotter, sport, leisure and culture trusts from across the UK came together in the stunning Sheffield City Hall to celebrate a year in which trusts have become more central to the health and wellbeing of communities across the country. Managing the UK’s publicly-owned services and facilities, trusts have taken a major step forward in changing the shape of services to target people with short and long-term health issues, who struggle to access physical activity or simply are not engaged in any form of physical or mental stimulation.
The lives of our older population, immigrant communities, disabled people, women and girls, and many other people have been improved as a result of the trust work and led to over 100 trusts being involved in the second SPORTA Awards, organised by the membership organisation for all sport, leisure and culture trusts across the UK and Ireland.
SPORTA UK Chief Executive Brian Leonard said: “The range, diversity and depth of the work now being done in our communities by these trusts is quite exceptional, and I think much of it goes unrecognised. That is why we launched the awards that turn the spotlight on some of that work and the people showing the ambition, creativity and commitment to turning lives around.
“A key part of that is partnership and that was evident in the awards with local and national government, the NHS, other charities, sport, leisure and culture organisations all part of the celebration and the great success stories we heard about in Sheffield. We hear a lot about services being cut back, and there’s no doubt that we are living in very difficult times for public service finances, but there is some wonderful work being done by these trusts from the southern tip of England to Wales, northern Ireland and the very north of Scotland. We congratulate the winners but also take our hat off to the more than 100 trusts who entered and allowed us to showcase their work.”
The Jubilee Hall Trust from London were the winners of two awards, taking home the ‘Successful Partnerships (small trust)’ prize for their work with Camden Council and Torriano Primary School, along with the special recognition of former Chairman Steve Cabrera, who was named ‘Trustee of the Year’ for 11 years tireless service at the organisation.
The ‘Volunteer of the Year’ award was claimed by Martin Floyd and John Totney of Sandwell Leisure Trust, who together have devoted over 2000 hours of their time in the last year to assisting and supporting users of their local facility. Completing the ‘Individual Awards’ was Karen de Sa of GLL, who took the accolade of ‘Outstanding Individual Achievement’ for her assiduous dedication and commitment to growing the gymnastics programme at the trust over a many years.
There was a double award for ‘Engaging Inactive People (large trust) category. Active Luton and Life Leisure’s respective ‘ME TIME’ and ‘actilife’ projects were selected for their fantastic and innovative abilities to understand and attract local populations, and importantly encourage long term beneficial behaviour change in previously inactive and hard-to-reach groups such as BAME young women.
BH Live, the south-coast’s leading social enterprise operator, picked up the ‘Impact of New Facility ‘award for their BH Live Active, Corfe Mullen centre. After two years unused, the former Virgin Active site has been taken over by the trust and transformed into a vibrant and much used community venue, offering a range of activity and fitness opportunities for all.
Other winners on the evening included Ashford Leisure Trust, who scooped the ‘Championing Diversity’ prize for their comprehensive range of programmes, and leadership of initiatives targeted for local disabled users, and Love Withington Baths, who showed the strength of trust and local community to take over and save a treasured local facility as they claimed the ‘Social Enterprise Improvement’ award.
SPORTA would like to extend great thanks to all members who generously supported the awards, and congratulate all trusts for their ongoing vital contributions to improving the health and wellbeing of those in need.
Full roll of honour:
Sporta Awards 2017:
Trust Awards
Impact of New Facility Award
Winner:
- BH Live – BH Live Active, Corfe Mullen
Engaging Inactive People (large trust)
Winners:
- Active Luton – Me Time
- Life Leisure – actilife
Engaging Inactive People (small trust)
Winner:
- Leisureworks – Love Your Life County Durham
Successful Partnerships (large trust)
Winner:
- Tees Active – Club 55
Successful Partnerships (small trust)
Winner:
- Jubilee Hall Trust – The Energy Club
Championing Diversity Award
Winner:
- Ashford Leisure Trust – Inclusive Activity
Workforce Development Award
Winner:
- GLL – Management Academy
Community Impact through Combined Culture and Leisure Award
Winner:
- Tandridge Trust – portfolio of sport and arts
Social Enterprise Improvement Award
Winner:
- Love Withington Baths – Community Takeover
Individual Awards
Volunteer of the Year Award
Winner:
- Martin Floyd and John Totney – Sandwell Leisure Trust
Special Mention:
- Cally Smith – Sport Aberdeen
Trustee of the Year
Winner:
- Steve Cabrera – Jubilee Hall Trust
Outstanding Individual Achievement
Winner:
- Karen de Sa – GLL
ENDS
For more information about the Sporta Awards, please contact:
Andrew Woodcock, Projects Officer, Sporta
T: 0207 250 8263