Getting Started with Challenge 2012 Janette Mills / Elaine Nolan

*Over a coffee the idea of establishing a netball team for NHS Blackpool was discussed *We wanted to get fit and participate in team based sport, but lacked the confidence to join an established club. Tangerine Dream, League Winners

Day Jobs – Audit Manager – Contracts Manager – Personal Assistant – Quality and Standards Co-ordinator

*Then in answer to our questions an was sent round to NHS Blackpool staff, asking them to rise to the 2012 challenge for the Olympics and encourage staff to become involved in sport. Jammy Dodgers

*We realised this was our opportunity to set up the netball league. * We accessed the NHS Sport and Physical Activity website which provides advice and information to help NHS staff organise team sports including netball. Moody Blues

The four founding members are various shapes and sizes and include a very experienced netball player / coach to someone who has not played netball since her days at school many years ago. This may be a reason for the initial success of the initiative as it was easily apparent that all members of staff are welcome to join the netball league, no matter what their ability or fitness level is, with the main aim being to get staff fit and involved in sport as well as participating in competitive sport. Thundercats

Public Health have helped out by funding the start up of the league by buying balls, bibs and training cones. Sunshine Raiders

The first 4 weeks we meet for training and then the matches started We planned alternative training and match nights and encouraged new members to attend the training sessions. 6 Teams have participated in the league: -Jammy Dodgers -Moody Blues -Purple Pivots -Thundercats -Tangerine Dream -Sunshine Raiders

The first season of the league ended in December with a total of 6 teams participating. Our second started on the 19 th January 2011 merging with Blackpool Council

As a result of the netball being so successful we were approached by the football federation and Sue to organise a football league Purple Pivots

Start with a football tournament to get people interested. We met with our local Playfootball facility who agreed to fund the tournament as they would make revenue once the league started

To our amazement 16 teams participated in the tournament held on a cold January night Tangerine Army our Winners

The teams were from the NHS and Blackpool council We have formed a good working relationship with the Council sports and development co-ordinator HORUS our runners up – a group of doctors from Blackpool Victoria Hospital

Launching an NHS / Council Football league in March in conjunction with PlayFootball Bayern Bru

Our Next Plan Golf? Rounders? Zumba? We’ve put it to the Vote!