About Us

Jennie Price, Chief Executive of Sport England addresses CSPN Conference March 2013 on the current and future role of County Sports Partnerships

Active Cumbria, the Sport and Physical Activity Partnership is one of 49 County Sports Partnerships (CSP’s) in England; the foundations of the organisation were laid in 1999 when the local authorities in Cumbria came together to collaborate and secure funding to deliver Sport England’s Active Sport Programme. Active Cumbria has since established a successful inclusive sports delivery system through a vibrant network of providers and deliverers committed to working together to achieve active and healthy communities in Cumbria through sport and physical activity.

Through strategic connectivity and partnerships, Active Cumbria has facilitated many measurable and positive outcomes contributing to an increase in participation in sport and physical activity. Our Strategy provides the opportunity to celebrate the excellent outcomes and successes of the previous Strategic Framework for Sport and Physical Activity in Cumbria 2006-2009. Active Cumbria utilises a wealth of data intelligence that characterises nineteen sporting segments, each having different needs and demands of products or services. This knowledge is used to inform both planning and programming decisions and to help persuade more people to take part in sport and physical activity. This has had a significant impact on improving sporting and physical activity opportunities for the residents of, and visitors to, Cumbria.

Active Cumbria is governed by a strong strategic Steering Group, made up of high level influential opinion formers representing sport, education, health, voluntary and local government sectors. The principle aim of the Steering Group is to: ‘promote Active Cumbria as a strategic, dynamic, flexible and progressive body, capable of supporting and influencing partners to improve the quality of life for people of all ages within Cumbria through sport and physical activity.’ The Steering Group is supported by a Core Team of professionals who provide leadership, co-ordination and structures which allow people and organisations to work together more effectively.

The Active Cumbria Steering Group and the Core Team have maintained a high level of governance and financial accountability whilst continually appraising their performance in order to identify opportunities for improvement, utilising The Cultural and Sport Improvement Toolkit (CSIT) to improve business processes and efficiencies.

Active Cumbria is extensively commissioned and contracted by Sport England to deliver a range of specific programmes and services and Active Cumbria commissions other organisations and partners to deliver on its behalf where they are appropriately placed to do so.

Active Cumbria is accountable to its funding stakeholders, yet the partnership operations and delivery is significantly influenced and shaped by the aims and objectives of national and local partners and the needs of different communities in Cumbria.

Our ambitions - 5 P's

• Participation - Adults: Deliver a growth in participation across the adult population of Cumbria. Children and Young People: Increase the number of young people, with a focus on those aged 14 and over, developing sport and physical activity as a habit for life. Disability: Provide and promote high quality and safe opportunities for disabled people of all abilities to become involved in sport and physical activity on a regular basis. Talent: Support talented performers and enable them to reach their sporting potential
• People - Support the ongoing development of coaching and volunteering capacity within the sport and physical activity sector in Cumbria
• Places - Ensure that there is access to a range of quality places in Cumbria to play sport and take part in physical activity
• Partnership Working - Maintain and develop the culture of working in partnership
• Profile - Raise the profile of sport and physical activity across Cumbria