Sandwell Sport & Physical Activity Places Strategy 2010-2020

Prospects4Sport assisted Sandwell MBC and partners to develop a Strategy which sets out to deliver the "Places" element of the overarching Strategy for Physical Activity, PE and Sport in Sandwell.  It identifies how places, facilities and amenities for sport & physical activity can be further improved to help contribute to the overall vision of increasing participation.

The Strategy is more than just a typical sports facilities strategy recognising that physical activity can take place in a wide variety of both formal and informal environments, including parks and open spaces, playing pitches, on canal tow paths and roads as well as within 'buildings'.

Using Sandwell's ten focus activities, the strategy identifies:
• What Places are required to participate in these activities
• What Places has Sandwell currently got and what are the issues/gaps
• What improvements are required in the future.
This includes Places that are indoors/outdoors, formal /informal, static /moveable and considers the related infrastructure, for example lighting and signage.

Prospects4Sport undertook a significant research and consultation programme resulting in a final Strategy which sets out:
• The ideal Places landscape in Sandwell
• The current infrastructure including identification of key strengths and areas for improvement
• Four strategic themes for the future:
   - Improving access to school facilities for community use
   - Improving the quality of the existing infrastructure
   - Improving accessibility & usage of freely available outdoor space
   - New provision
• An action plan for implementation including suggested responsibilities and timescales.