Newark Sports Association carrying out review of community's wishlist

Sports clubs and groups are being asked to put together a wishlist of facilities they would like to see in the town.

Newark Sports Association, which aims to improve access to sport and leisure facilities, is carrying out the review so it can focus of what the community needs.

The association said there had been significant investment in formal sports facilities in Newark, including the YMCA Sports and Community Village, Newark R&M cricket ground and Newark Rugby Club.

However, it is concerned that a significant amount of park and playing field space, where people exercise informally, are being lost, and some sports are without facilities.

Association secretary Paul Baggaley said: “These are really challenging times and we need to know where those challenges are so that we can determine how to respond.

"We are encouraging all sports clubs, associations, interest groups, coaches and individuals to tell is us, in 100 words or less, in terms of facilities if you had one wish what would it be and why?

"We want to hear from anyone who has an interest from angling clubs to yoga teachers and from community groups to formal sports clubs.”

Sport England is reviewing its strategy so Newark Sports Association needs to be able to align its aims to the national body's emerging strategy if it is to remain relevant.

The main themes of the strategy will be to engage with the government’s levelling up agenda, connect sport and physical activity to health and wellbeing, concentrate on under-represented groups, involve the next generation and to take a hyper-local approach to investments in place and spaces.

Newark Sports Association wants to deliver its findings at its annual meeting on November 26 so would like responses to be submitted by the end of October.

Francis Towndrow, the association's chairman, said: “Newark Sports Association is a small voice and so we have to work hard to get things right."

Contributions should be sent to contact@newarksportsassociation.org.uk

Call Paul Baggaley on 07903 6623369 with any queries.