VIDEO: Sandwell sports project smashing expectations
A unique sports project in Sandwell challenging couch potatoes to take part in regular exercise sessions has smashed expectations, with around 8,000 residents getting involved for the first time.
Sandwell Leisure Trust's (SLT) Games Project, inspired by last year's Commonwealth Games, encouraged people who were not taking regular exercise to participate in at least one half-hour session each week over a six-month period.
Activities ranged from rugby and women's boxing to pilates and netball at sessions held in the borough.
The project was funded by Sport England as part of the Make Your Move initiative, which gave funding to various outlets to increase sport activities in the borough.
Rebecca Clayton, SLT's sports development and physical activity team manager, said that staff were delighted with the success.
She said: "It's been one of our most successful stand alone initiatives to date, with unprecedented levels of participation right across the age and capability board," she said.
"It just goes to show that a lasting legacy is being delivered, with record numbers of people getting active and making use of the facilities available in our communities."
Warley Rugby Club was one of the first recipients of the Sport England funding, for which they developed a touch rugby session to get people involved in the sport.
Due to the success of the project the club, based in Tat Bank Road, Oldbury, has now been recognised by the sport's governing body as a national centre for teaching the touch rugby format.
Jason Charlesworth, owner of Charlesworth Family Martial Arts in Halesowen, was another one of the funding beneficiaries.
He said: "Sandwell Leisure Centre contacted me and asked if I would like to provide ladies' only training sessions, as it can be quite a male dominated area, and the ladies have really enjoyed the sessions we've put on."
During the past year Sandwell Leisure Trust has attracted nearly half a million pounds of external funding into the borough.
SLT spokesman Greg Rees said: "The activities attracted 8,000 people in the borough to take part in our range of games they were logged from taking part in a range of different activities."
