Council Extreme Sports Project is a National Success!

North Cornwall District Council (NCDC) win national award for health and well being

Proud NCDC staff and councillors received a national award for the challenging lifestyles project at the Grosvenor Hotel in London in March.

LGC Awards (Local Government Chronicle) recognises best practice and innovation in local government services. The award was presented by TV personality Rob Bryden who was master of ceremonies for the evening.

Entries from across the country were short listed to six, and the NCDC 'Challenging Lifestyles Project' was highlighted by the panel of judges as an outstanding example of passion, innovation commitment and deservedly declared the winner.

Simon Blamey, NCDC Head of Leisure services, is thrilled with the award:

"The challenging lifestyles project aims to overcome issues around rural isolation and deprivation that lead to young people being unchallenged, isolated, excluded and possibly engaging in negative pursuits.

We have partnered with private sector companies to provide activities including extreme sports such as surfing, rock climbing and canoeing.

To date over 3,500 children and young people in North Cornwall have had the chance to take part in new activities and sports they would normally have been excluded from."

The judges were particularly impressed that a rural local authority was prepared to take the challenge and accept the risk of providing lifestyle activities such as surfing and climbing to help the authority tackle issues related to inactivity in young people.

Councillor Arwen Folkes, Vice Chair of the Community Services Committee, attended the awards:

"I am overwhelmingly proud of all the staff that worked so hard on the project and have helped NCDC gain this fabulous recognition. The challenging lifestyles project is fantastic and offers real benefits to the children and young people who take part. It is now vitally important that best practice like this is carried forward into the new authority for Cornwall."

A parent from Launceston was delighted with the opportunities the project presented to her children:

"The challenging activities project was fantastic. My children gained confidence in numerous areas, having been through some rough patches. This was a lifetime experience giving them positive memories that I could never have afforded."

More Info...

North Cornwall District Council - Leisure & Sport
Email: leisure@ncdc.gov.uk