County Sports Partnership

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Sports Partnership

The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Sports Partnership (CSP) is one of the 45 Sports partnerships established by Sport England to deliver a strategic vision for sport in their areas.  The CSP performs  three key functions; strategic co-ordination of sport in their areas; marketing, communication and advocacy; and performance measurement of activity.

The CSP is better placed than many to fulfil these emerging roles as it is able to build on both the Cornwall Active Sports programme and the work of the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Sports Action Zone.  This means the CSP is able to draw upon expertise in sport (particularly through the work of its community coaches and National Governing Body Officers) and to facilitate sport's potential contribution to economic regeneration in the County.  This is being developed through existing links with Cornwall Enterprise, Cornwall County Council and the seven District Councils in Cornwall, Devon and Cornwall Police, the Education service and the Health sector. All are represented on the CSP Board, as are the private sector and Sport England.

The key aims of the CSP were set out in May 2004 in its publication "Strategy for Sport and Active Recreation". The four key priorities are to improve facilities, effect cultural change, improve communication, and target those not currently taking part in formal and informal healthy activity.  The CSP is currently reviewing that Strategy in the light of changes since 2004.  The CSP will be particularly looking to strengthen further its links with Cornwall Local Area Agreements.

The CSP is represented through its Chairman on the South West leaders group which is already bringing positive collaboration across the region as a whole to help deliver the Sport England Regional Plan.
The CSP comprises of a small core team which is composed of two senior and three support members of staff.  The Board also retains a part-time Executive Chairman.   These posts are funded by Sport England.   In addition, the CSP manages a team of community coaches and National Governing Body (NGB) officers for Athletics, Basketball, Girls' Football, Hockey, Netball, Squash and Swimming. In addition, the CSP hosts the Sport Coach UK Coach Development Officer, and the NGB officers for Rugby, Cricket and Badminton.

The CSP shares accommodation near Truro with Cornwall Outdoors, part of Children, Young People & Families department of Cornwall County Council responsible for providing advice to schools and others on sport in the curriculum and for delivering outdoor activities.
In November 2005 the CSP was awarded "Fit for Purpose" status by Sport England, one of a relatively small number of Partnerships to have received this accolade.

Currently, the CSP is developing County Sport Networks to help deliver its active living targets at local level.  These will build on partnerships with a range of partners in areas as diverse as:-

  • The Local delivery of National Sport England and National Governing Body requirements through Whole Sport Plans.
  • Provision of sporting pathways for young people from grass roots to elite performers
  • The Coach and Volunteer Education programme building workforce capacity across the partnership area in collaboration with National Governing Bodies, Sports Leaders UK and Sports Coach UK.
  • Supporting the development of the Club infrastructure with Sports Clubs to ensure they achieve appropriate accreditation and are registered as Safe Environments.
  • Building and sustaining partnerships with Local Authorities, Schools, Police, Health and others to help achieve their targets while at the same time achieving the CSP's own.
  • Deploying Community Sports Coaches to maintain and develop high quality coaching and developing a quality assured coaching strategy.
  • Continuing work with schools and school sports' associations and the Local Education Authority.
  • Supporting the development of community-based activities, based on the needs of the  local communities
  • Supporting the implementation of the Extended Schools agenda and working closely with the Children's Service
  • Supporting the implementation of the recommendations from the 'Youth Matters' green paper
  • The CSP looks to develop further in the future and to become the most effective County Sports Partnership in the country.