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New Year's Resolution for Tony Blair Sports Foundation

Research shows that most people break their new years resolutions within a week of making them but there’s one way to ensure you stick to it and at the same time help your local community get active. Community sports organisations need your help and you can make it your new years resolution to help them.

North East charity the Tony Blair Sports Foundation recently carried out a survey of local sports organisations and got an overwhelming response with clubs saying they needed more trained volunteers.  

The Tony Blair Sports Foundation will agree to pay half the coaching fees for anyone who signs up to become a trained coach or official in athletics, basketball, tennis, cycling, rowing or football.  All they ask in return is that you commit to volunteering some of your time with a local sports club or community organisation and the Foundation will help and support you right from the start. 

Local tennis player Dennis Laycock became a member of the Foundation and is now a Level 2 tennis coach.  Dennis says:

“Because of the extra coaching hours we have now that I’m qualified, for the first time, we are able to run sessions throughout the winter.  This will help maintain the children’s interest and become an all year round activity.”

Building on a highly successful 2010 Jeanette Pickard, Chief Executive said:

“2011 is going to be the best yet for the Foundation.  With just over a year to go to the 2012 Olympics we want to make sure our local communities are able to play their part in giving the North East a sporting legacy for many years to come.  Our members give their time voluntarily every week in local sports clubs, schools and community organisations and are the real sporting heroes.  Working with many organisations across the region some of our achievements this year include:-

• Winning the Regional Club and Partnership Award by England Athletics
• Working with a local charity supporting families with autism providing 15 new coaches allowing the organisation to offer more sports facilities to their members
• Organising a series of Football Fun Days with Newcastle United Foundation which saw over 800 young girls take part
• 1200 pupils from 96 schools across different age groups took part in the first Get Going Get Rowing competition launched in partnership with the local Strategic Health Authority, British Rowing and School Competition Managers. 
• The 3^rd TBSF Tennis Challenge Cup involved 439 schools which meant over 3,500 competitors took part and over 10,000 Year 3 pupils received coaching sessions
• Formed a partnership with the Percy Hedley Foundation and the English Federation of Disability Sport which will allow all TBSF members to include disability training in their coaching pathway”

Peter Barron, Trustee of the Foundation added:

"The real value in the Tony Blair Sports Foundation is the way it has increased the number of volunteer coaches across the North East, giving thousands of youngsters a chance to get involved in sport. For example, 10,000 Year 3 children received tennis coaching through the Foundation and that is a proud achievement."

For more information on how you can join the Foundation and help get more young people involved in sport telephone 0191 2760640 or email info@tonyblairsportsfoundation.org