Launched in 2004, Barclays Spaces for Sports is a groundbreaking £30million partnership between Barclays, the Football Foundation and Groundwork. The three-year scheme focuses on creating sustainable sports sites in areas where such facilities are lacking.
It is the biggest ever investment in grass roots sport by a UK company and has been described by Chancellor Gordon Brown as a blueprint for public-private partnerships.
Now in its third year, Barclays Spaces for Sports has opened more than 130 sites and awarded more than 2,900 coaching packs to local communities up and down the country, giving over 360,000 disadvantaged people the opportunity to benefit from the programme. It is on track to deliver 200 sports sites and 3,600 coaching packs, benefiting over half a million people.
The Hollis Sponsorship Awards judges said, “with big budgets, we always look harder for evidence that this is money well spent. What impressed us about Barclays Spaces for Sports was the emphasis on sustainability and the diversity of groups benefiting. With more than 1,000 Barclays staff volunteering to participate and 19 per cent of customers aware of the scheme, it's an excellent use of resources.”
Richard Caborn, Minister for Sport, said: “The Barclays Spaces for Sports programme, delivered by partners the Football Foundation and Groundwork on time and to budget, is a model for corporate social responsibility schemes. The programme is leading the way as a blueprint for true Public Private Partnership that is providing a lasting legacy of state-of-the-art sports facilities across the country. I congratulate Barclays, the Football Foundation and Groundwork on receiving the Hollis Award for the best Grass Roots Sport Programme.”
Michelle Smith, Head of Community Sports Sponsorship at Barclays, said, “Barclays believes that sport has a key role to play in revitalising our communities. Our aim is to make a real and lasting difference in communities across the country so it is a great honour to receive this Hollis Sponsorship Award for our involvement in grass roots sport.”
