Voluntary sports clubs from across East Herts are being invited to a Sports Clubs’ Forum at Wodson Park Sports Centre on Monday 25th January 2010.

The event, organised by the Herts Sports Partnership in conjunction with East Herts District Council and the three School Sports Partnerships which serve the area, will alert local sports clubs to a variety of funding opportunities as well as opportunities for local clubs to work more closely with their local schools.

The event, which starts at 6.30pm aims to breathe new life into the East Herts Community Sports Network, a group which acts as a unified voice for sport in the area.

In announcing the event, the Community Sports Network’s interim Chair, John O’Callaghan of the Herts Sports Partnership said: “Local sports clubs, which are almost exclusively powered by the effort of an army of volunteers, are the lifeblood of our community sports programmes. Elsewhere in Hertfordshire, Community Sports Networks, have brought together clubs and other key organisations; including the Primary Care Trust, Community Safety Partnership, local councils, School Sports Partnerships, and further education providers, with significant benefits for local sports development.”

He added: “Sports clubs make a huge contribution to community life and have a positive impact on tacking anti-social behaviour, improving health and wellbeing, educational achievement and creating stronger communities. This meeting, and the establishment of a vibrant Community Sports Network for East Herts, will ensure that those clubs are best placed to take advantage of increasing number of funding streams and support services that are out there.

I would urge all clubs to make every effort to be represented at this forum and to play an active part in building the East Herts Community Sports Network”.

Representatives of clubs wishing to attend this meeting should contact:

Valdis Belinis
East Herts District Council
Telephone: 01279 655261
Email: valdis.belinis@eastherts.gov.uk