Kewford Eagles journey demonstrates how a club through drive, determination and excellent planning can turn vision into reality Case study produced in July 2013 Kewford Eagles Kewford Eagles Football Club were awarded a huge grant of £800,000 from the Football Foundation, allowing the club to realise a dream 12 years in planning to develop 11 full-size football pitches, along with changing rooms, toilets and car parking on 30 acres of land that it is leasing next to Dudley Kingswinford Rugby Club in Wall Heath. The total cost of the project is around £1,076,560. Kewford Eagles has around 500 children, girls and boys playing for them including those with disabilities.  ‘We talked to other clubs who had achieved what we wanted to!’ ‘None of the players subscriptions were used to fund the project’ Key success factors; Consistent management committee with vision and drive to achieve Developing the club in stages; accreditation, - corporate organisation – developing “big plan” Utilising expertise to design and project manage the project Seeking and gaining a range of funding Challenges Inconsistency of advice from organisations on application for funding or planning Kewford Eagles were presented with the Queens Award For Voluntary Service in June 2012 – the equivalent of an MBE for volunteer groups 2007 – Lease agreement 1978 Formed one Under twelve team 2004 Achieved Junior Charter standard (20 teams) 2005 Achieved Charter Standard Adult Club 2006 Achieved Charter Standard Community Club 2012 Forty Four Teams 2014 First game to be played 2010 –Planning permission 2010-12 - negotiations with FA and F.F. 2012 – January F.F. Application made 2012 –June F.F. Grant made 2012 August building work starts 2013 Building work completed Developed for the Black Country BeActive Partnership by Sport Structures Limited

Warley Rugby Club is a rare rugby club in an inner-city area that provides a range of teams for all ages and both genders as well as partnering with other sports Case study produced in July 2013 Warley Rugby Club Formed 43 years ago in 1970, Warley Rugby Club is a community club within an area of high deprivation and provides opportunities for local people to take part in sport. The club lease a former industrial sports ground, with rugby as the core club activity, but facilities for football, boxing, darts and bowling clubs also available for local teams. To continue their growth, the club is developing waste land next to the existing facilities into a floodlit all weather training area. Through another application to the Inspired Facilities grant they are also seeking to develop an old squash court on their site into a Boxing facility, in conjunction with Warley Boxing club. The club has built strong relationships with local schools and the local community, through the support of the RFU, which has aided the development of junior and women's sections. The club is seeking to develop the local playing field where the club first started with the local authority ‘With the help of a number of partners we have managed to grow the club and its facilities but we don’t want to loose who we are’ Key success factors; Committed and continuity of key members that have a balance of skills that have enabled steady growth Strong partnership with local authority and governing body Taking every opportunity to learn from others through runningsports workshops and network meetings Challenges for the future Maintaining continued growth Attitude to sport locally in a Borough with the lowest participation in England Poor media coverage locally The “big plan” for the club is sustainability . ‘Many football teams don’t have a regular ground. We are an “in demand” place due to the way we look after the facilities’ My journey 1970 Formed using St John’s playing fields 2000 Moved to present Lease-hold site 2005 Seal of approval approved 2007 Women and youth sections 2012 Inspired facilities successful application 2013 First team achieved promotion with 52% from youth section Developed for the Black Country BeActive Partnership by Sport Structures Limited

Using local tradesmen for the improvements to the venue Walsall Gymnastics club moved to rent an industrial unit to enable them to deliver a range of gymnastics classes and activities Case study produced in July 2013 Walsall Gymnastics Club ‘We moved from the leisure centre to gain control of our programme ’ The club was formed in the 1970’s and run a series of programme and activities hiring a leisure centre. However they were increasingly frustrated with the service they received and the times made available for them. So after looking at a range of industrial units they decided to move to Walsall. Following successful planning permission in 2009 they moved into the industrial unit and installed a range of fixed gymnastics equipment. This gave them control over the use of the facility and they now open five nights a week and on both Saturday ad Sunday. Their members are very local and the philosophy of the club is to increase the number of boys and girls enjoying gymnastics. A number of older teenage boys take part in gymnastic activity to develop their “free-running” activities. Key success factors; Committee prepared to make “big decision” Passion for seeing children enjoy gymnastics Challenges for the future Reviewing planning permission to provide activities during the day Gaining support for CASC status and business advice Fully integrate boys into the club ‘The boys use gymnastics to improve their Free-running skills ’ “The rent of the unit is slightly more than hiring a leisure centre but we can leave our specialist equipment out all the time .” “The Inspired facilities grant will enable us to build new changing room and spectator area for parents” Using local tradesmen for the improvements to the venue Formed in 1970’s Hired local authority leisure centre Identify industrial unit for hire of suitable size Gain change of use planning permission Make application for Sport England Inspired facilities Developed for the Black Country BeActive Partnership by Sport Structures Limited

Informal swimming at Wolverhampton Central baths Wolverhampton Central Baths is a Local authority run facility which has a got a clear customer focused offer for informal swimming participation. Case study produced in August 2013 Informal swimming at Wolverhampton Central baths Swimming in a swimming club is not the only way people participate in sustained sporting activity. Although having a very successful swimming club running out their facility, Wolverhampton Central Baths key success is it ‘s ability to offer affordable cost effective informal swimming. As a result they have over 8,000 visits per month of casual swimmers a alone. Staff estimate that regulars make up anything from 65% to 100% of each swimming session with most regulars swimming anything from twice to everyday of the week. Lifeguard Amy who has worked at the centre for 6 years says “ our customer are regular swimmers who have been coming to the swimming baths for years, week in week. The sessions have been enhanced with the ASA Swimfit programme. ‘I swim at the baths because it is cost effective and in a great location, I also know the staff well and they get the pool hoist out as soon as they see me’ Location plays a key part in participation as the swimming baths are easily assessable in the centre of the city Key success factors; An offer to casual adult swimmers that puts customers first and is adaptable to their needs. Friendly staff that know the regular casual swimmers A location that is easily accessible in a central location. An affordable price of SwimFit membership ranging from £7.50- £15..00 a month A social environment suitable for regular swimmers Specific sessions eg women only that endeavour to meet the needs of the customer Wrap around services such as adult swimming lessons Added benefit such as the steam room included in the membership A very affordable off peak membership that caters for older swimmers 60+ living in Wolverhampton. The busiest session is on a Monday morning 9.00-11.00 and is women's only consisting of anything from 40-65 women per session. It is estimated that around 90% of the customer are Muslim women. “Its a social environment where Muslim women come to keep fit and meet there friends, they draw the blinds and try and ensure there are female lifeguards“ Central baths customer -Marif Asif . ‘’ Challenge 1 Centre has become dated and needs renovation work Challenge 2 Being able to offer female only lifeguards for women only session Challenge 3 Ensuring the baths were well used during the day Developed for the Black Country BeActive Partnership by Sport Structures Limited