PEOPLE of all ages in Tameside are benefitting from an organisation set up to provide the chance for physical benefits.
Junior footballers playing on a £1.1 million 3G Football pitch, an exercise group for menopausal women, archery sessions for disabled people and a raft of holiday clubs providing fun, physical activity and nourishment may sound very different.
But they all come under the auspices of TSPAN, the Tameside Sport and Physical Activity Network.
More than 130 organisations are providing a range of activities for people across the borough after Active Tameside created it to engage and support all sports clubs and physical activity groups in the borough.
Results are being shown, with young footballers of Hollingworth Juniors enjoying playing on the £1.1 million pitch at Longdendale.
That came as TSPAN, formed in 2019. helped the club tap into financial support via the Football Foundation and Tameside Council.
And the message is clear – the more, the merrier.
Andy Dwyer, TSPAN co-ordinator and head of sport and physical activity at Active Tameside, said: “We have 132 affiliated sports clubs and physical activity groups.
“But we’re looking to expand that reach by increasing awareness among Tameside clubs and groups who don’t really know a lot about this local offer.
“We needed to do something that on the one hand focuses on our service users to make sure their club/group will be sustainable and on the other to support community clubs and groups by providing local support dovetailing with what’s on offer from the national governing body (NGB).
“We work with established organisations and start-ups and through a club/group health check is where we draw out areas for development.
“We then have shared actions that we can support with over the next 12 months, these are very specific to help a club or group achieve its goal.
“We cover most areas of club/group development, increasing participation, coach development, club to school links, governance, funding, safeguarding, first aid – anything a sports club or physical activity group needs to become stronger and help them become more sustainable.
“Tackling inequalities is one of our big priorities.
“We look to support women and girls, people with disabilities, people from a low social economic background and people from ethnic diverse communities.
“They’re all priorities that we want to support, we are keen to work with all clubs and groups to help remove barriers to participation, volunteering or coaching.”
TSPAN’s influence of also felt by those who have used it, like Stalybridge and Dukinfield Recreation Bowling Club.
A spokesperson for it said: “Our club has really benefitted from regular meetings with Andrew Dwyer, who has helped us to apply for grants, linked us to other organisations, has aided our formation of an action plan, helped us to look for volunteers and promoted our club through social media.
“He has also challenged our thinking on some things and supported us as a critical friend.
“It is great to feel that someone is ‘onside’ and that we have someone who we can ask for help if we are unsure of where to go next with anything.”
Dukinfield Town and Youth FC added: “The network supported and guided the club in developing our first club development plan, which has supported with recruitment of players and volunteers.
“We have created links with the Tameside Titans Disability Sports Clubs as we prioritise SEND delivery.
“The network has also connected us with a local archery group to discuss opportunities to utilise facilities.
“From this, we have formed a great relationship, bringing varied people and ages together.
“It also means our site will be better utilised, meaning a more secure site and a group of people willing to help improve maintenance.”
TSPAN is also home to Tameside’s Holiday Activity Fund (HAF) provision, which tackles food poverty, deprivation and social inequalities for thousands of young people and their families.
Branded locally as Fuel4Fun, the programme offers free holiday club places to young people on benefit-related free school meals.
It provides them with fun activities, creative and physical challenges, alongside a free, nutritious meal each day.
In 2024 and so far, this year, it has worked with 22 sports clubs and physical activity groups which have delivered 77 holiday camps with 5,782 attendances.
Mr Dwyer added: “We’ve grown our external HAF programme from two providers.
“Although we’re now up to 22, I’m confident there will be more. All the community providers are TSPAN members so we can assure quality delivery for young people to enjoy in the school holidays.”