Developing More Active Communities

Our work within Derby‘s ethnically diverse communities continues to grow, as we look to provide more resources in different languages, ensure our provision is culturally sensitive and recognises religious dates and holidays.

DCCT Anuual Report 2022

Our commitment to developing more active communities begins with the very youngest of our participants, to encourage healthy habits from early life, right through the full spectrum of our delivery, to ensure those in their later years are part of a connected and vibrant community too.

Within schools, we aim to instil an active culture by not only engaging with pupils, but by also supporting teachers to become more confident in delivering physical activity and embedding it within the curriculum. This approach is integral to our Active Schools programme, which has doubled its delivery in 2022 to support almost 5,000 primary aged pupils across Derby’s highest areas of deprivation. All children take part in the universal programme, with activities including the Daily Mile and assemblies. Pupils in need of additional support are then signposted to our Rammie’s Healthy Heroes lunch time clubs, to support healthy lifestyles and weight loss, or to our physical literacy intervention to improve fine motor skills. The extension of the project now means we run Rammie’s Little Movers and Little Live ITs, supported intervention programmes beginning at the very start of the education journey in nursery. The programme also upskills staff within the school setting to ensure that the healthy, active culture lasts beyond the one-year intervention. Teachers and other school staff can access a full suite of training, resources and qualifications, which are backed up by our wider Schools team. Across our teacher training programmes this year, which span our Schools Affiliation package, our Premier League Primary Stars delivery and the above Active Schools project, we have supported over 400 school staff to improve their confidence in delivery PE this year. Another ever-growing community which we are supporting is our girls’ football strand of delivery. This year, we recruited our first dedicated Female Football Lead to support the development of this area of our work. Our successful Girls’ Regional Talent Centre continues to thrive, with 64 girls taking part in regular training and fixtures. To support demand for this programme, we gained the license to launch an Emerging Talent Centre this year, which now provides training for an additional 85 10-16 year olds. Building on previous years, our female Football and Education team now has 40 female learners, and we continue to encourage players through our Player Pathway in partnership with Derby County Women, with several players making their debut for their senior teams this season. Community is at the heart of Inclusion delivery, with sessions taking place as close to participants’ homes as possible to remove any barriers of travel or cost. Our Premier League Kicks sessions continue to be at the heart of this offer, working with over 1,000 children and young people across 2022 – providing weekly sessions designed to decrease anti-social behaviour, increase skills and confidence and build community pride. Our Inclusion team also strive to make opportunities accessible for people living with a disability. Across our pan-disability and impairment specific sessions we supported over 150 individuals this year. The team have also built up a new Volunteer Academy this year to support the legacy and sustainability of our projects, and safeguard the longevity of active communities. 60 young people have actively volunteered and gained qualifications through the Academy. Our work within Derby’s ethnically diverse communities continues to grow, as we look to provide more resources in different languages, ensure our provision is culturally sensitive and recognise religious dates and holidays. Wellbeing For All is our leading project within these communities, working to increase awareness of signs and symptoms of cancer, alongside reducing health inequalities through activity, support and education. This year, we supported over 300 people through this project, and have continued to strengthen our interaction through generational links – utilising our relationships with schools and pupils to support older family members. Finally, our Forever Active umbrella of delivery continues to support the older generation to remain part of an active community – both physically and socially. Our Extra Time Hub welcomes participants to take part in regular social activity, and is complemented by our chair-based and low impact circuit sessions, with walking football remaining an ever-popular part of our timetable.