Testimonials
Working with Wansbeck District Council’s Sports Development Unit over the last 4 years, I have been very impressed by the range of activities and support you have been able to provide to residents, communities and local sports clubs. From the Holiday Hype and sports activity programmes, to the exercise on referral schemes, from the Community Sports Network, to developing new programmes through our partnership to help more people into volunteering, training and employment in sports – the team do a fantastic job. It is great to see this has been officially recognised, with the Unit receiving the highest level of Quest accreditation of any local authority in the North East. The team and the committed individuals within it are an asset to our partnership.
Declan Baharini, Manager, Wansbeck Initiative
Working with the community is an area which Wansbeck District Council Excels. The Council run a well-received summer sports programme for all age groups including taster sessions in a range of sports. It is also obvious that staff in the council put a lot of time and effort into raising funds for charity, which shows that they are a caring a motivated group of workers, Well Done!
Assessor, Northumberland Healthy People, Healthy Business Award
Just to say how much we all enjoyed the awards ceremony for young people in Wansbeck held last night at the Leisure Centre in Newbiggin. Thank you so much for arranging it. Please pass on our thanks to all who made the evening such a success. Clearly we were delighted to win 3 awards and we hope to do even better next year! The buffet was superb and we were made to feel so welcome from the moment we arrived.
Christine Rowland, Extended Services Coordinator – Ashington
I am writing to congratulate you on organising a varied summer programme, which had something in it for everyone. My children tried lots of new activities, which I would not have been able to access without the help of you and your team.
Parent
You seem to have gathered an exciting team around you and I will be very keen to see sessions delivered in, Aerobics/ Boxercise/ Circuits (Years7/8), Badminton, Dance/ Salsa- all types, Cheerleading, Judo/Balance. Can I take this opportunity to say big thanks for your help and support. Lisa Gladwin in particular has made a big impact in dance with our Year 7/8 girls; many I feel who were in danger of opting out of PE and school sport.
Doug Meadows, Head of P.E. Newbiggin Middle School
I would just like to congratulate you on the content of the children’s ‘Easter’ activity scheme. There is so much variation. Some of the activities are so new and original they have definitely appealed to my children. I am sure the sports development department have spent a long while collaborating the activities and certainly in my eyes and my children’s it has been well worth it. I feel that at last we are catching up with other areas that have always provided a much more varied list of activities for many years. Also the cost of the activities is great, meaning that it is affordable for most people. Well done and thank you!!!
Parent
On behalf of myself and the committee of Ashington YMCA Karate Supporters Group I would like to thank you for considering our recent application for funding favourably. In particular we would like to thank and acknowledge the extraordinary help, advice and support given to us by Chris Weitz who has spent a lot of time with us discussing our application and detailing funds that are available to clubs like us. The funding will now help us to provide fitness equipment and karate suits to current and future members of our club hopefully enabling them to improve health, fitness and progress within the field of Karate
Jan Wright, Chair Person Ashington YMCA Karate Club
I know that my committee plus members and guests expect me to pass on their thanks for all that was done by the local authority employees to ensure we had a memorable evening at Newbiggin Sports and Community Centre. Chris Weitz helped facilitate our decision to give a surprise presentation of an old film that contained shots of matches up to and including the final of the memorable victory of the National Village Cricket Championship in 1974!
William Ogilvie, Chairman Bomarsund Cricket Club
Just a short message to say thank you to yourself and your department for the help and support you have given to Ashington Judo Club over recent months. To secure the funding for our new mat area has assisted us greatly and to secure the main hall area of the leisure centre two nights a week will allow us to continue to develop. We hope to be able to invite new members and other clubs to come to train and compete with us in a greatly improved environment.
Can you pass on my thanks to your colleagues Chris Weitz and Lewis Pendleton for all the hard work and many hours they have put into assisting our club in its continued development. Within a short period Ashington Judo Club will hopefully have completed its UKCC Silver award and will become a flag ship club within the County.
Wayne Broderick, Chairman and Head Coach Ashington Judo Club
Wansbeck Play Rangers work closely with the Sports Development Team to allow young people in Wansbeck to enjoy free, fun and natural play sessions in parks and green spaces. I feel the Sports Development Team provide an excellent service to the community.
Heather Ashburner, Play Ranger Supervisor
The Sports Development Team has worked extremely hard to achieve their ‘Quest Approved’ status. The Sports Development Unit has a clear commitment and willingness to constantly improve upon the existing service and to meet the aims and expectations of both their partners and customers. The Team demonstrated a clear strategic direction with links made at a corporate level within the Council’s Community Plan and corporate objectives. The ranges of services provided by the Team were extensive covering all elements of the sports development continuum. Team Staff felt valued and Team morale was high, with a number of Team members making specific reference to the managerial style enabling them to develop and try new ideas within a very trusting environment. All of the Team came across very professionally and personable, demonstrating a good knowledge of their individual work areas whilst also able to articulate the work of the Team.
Jack Goodfellow, Quest Assessor
Within Wansbeck so much has been achieved in raising participation in PE and school sport over the past few years. More recently we have worked increasingly closely with the excellent Sport Development Team at Wansbeck to develop school-club links. Young people are now being supported to continue the sport they play at school into the club environment. The Sports Development staff also delivers active, fun and inspiring sessions in many of the Wansbeck schools. We look forward to continuing the successful partnerships we have established with the Sports Development Team.
Liz Armstrong, Partnership Development Manager – Ashington Partnership
