1. Initiatives Learning objectives: Describe the common purposes of initiatives developed to provide opportunities for becoming, or remaining, involved in physical activity: Increase participation in sport to improve health, with a focus on priority groups. Retain people in sport through an effective network of clubs, sports facilities, coaches, volunteers and competition. Create opportunities for talented performers to achieve success.

2. Increasing participation in sport to improve health
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) wants to increase participation in sport to improve everyone’s health, with a focus on priority groups. The following groups are considered priority groups:
• Lower social-economic groups
• Adults with a limiting disability or illness
• Women and girls
• Black and minority ethnic groups.

3. Sport centres
Aim to provide and encourage the community to take part in an active lifestyle. They can make their facility more accessible by arranging their sessions and pricing structure in different ways according to the priority groups they are targeting.
Special users – sessions for a certain type of user, such as women, juniors and pensioners
• Discounts – for pensioners, the unemployed and under 16s
• Crèche facilities – so parents can take part
• Starting a club – increasing interest by having clubs based at the centre.

4. Private fitness/sports clubs
can also encourage more people to play by:
• holding open days – events encouraging people to ‘have a go’ at the activity
• school visits – going into schools to show the sport off
• organizing trips to events – to show the sport at its best, which can lead to more people taking part
• advertising – letting people know they are there.

5. Sustaining Involvement in Sport
An effective network of clubs, sports facilities, coaches, volunteers and competitions supports the structure of encouraging involvement, progression and a lifelong active lifestyle.
Shared facilities
Local clubs
NGB pathway
schools
School provide first opportunities for participation, have the facilities and links with local clubs
Local clubs share facilities or have coaches work within school during extra-curricular or teacher has links with local club and encourage youngsters to participate out of school.
NGB’s work with clubs to provide coaching development, competitions, and officials. They also create pathways so that those youngsters who show ability can progress.