Strategies

Strategies - In July 2010 Leisure Futures was selected onto Sport England's 'Strategic Planning Framework for Sport' to help organisations involved in sport to improve the way they plan facilities provision and drive efficiency savings. Prior to the launch of this Framework, Leisure Futures was contracted to provide support to selected local authorities as part of Sport England's 'Facility Improvement Service'. As part of this service, Leisure Futures supported a number of local authorities with their strategic planning for sport including the London Boroughs of Lambeth and Enfield, Teignbridge District Council and Devon County Council, Plymouth City Council, Wiltshire and Cornwall Unitary Councils, Taunton Deane Borough Council and Newark & Sherwood Council.

Client local authorities for whom Leisure Futures has prepared sports and recreation strategies include North Devon District Council, Penwith District Council, Purbeck District Council, Swindon Borough Council, the London Borough of Hackney, the London Borough of Haringey and West Dorset District Council.

We have also assisted the Royal Parks Agency in preparing its new health, wellbeing and sports strategy to 2013, and helped ProActive West London to research and develop its first three year strategy and action plan by means of a series of consultations including a Stakeholder Conference facilitated by Leisure Futures.

Our strategic planning work for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 includes assignments for the West London Alliance (comprising the six West London borough councils), and for the London Borough of Islington including an Estate-Based summer sports programme.

For the London Sports Action Zone, Leisure Futures prepared a Needs Assessment and Action Plan following its formation and, eight years later, an independent evaluation of its achievements.

For the local authorities in Southend, in Torridge in Devon and in Camden, Lewisham, Tower Hamlets in London, we have advised on strategic planning of sports halls, artificial grass pitches and/or swimming pools using sports facility planning tools.

Toolkits and Guidance Materials - over the past 20 years, Leisure Futures has researched and written several publications, web-based toolkits and other guidance materials on the process of preparing sports and cultural strategies. These include:

• “The Strategic Planning for Sport Toolkit” - Guidance on the process of preparing a sports facilities strategy for the Sport England website (Facilities & Planning webpage)
• “Planning Across Boundaries” - Guidance on Local Strategies for the Development of Sport - a Best Value publication for Sport England
• “Local Cultural Strategies - Guidance for Local Authorities in England” - Published as “Creating Opportunities” (December 2000) for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport
• “Local Cultural Strategies - a Good Practice Guide” for the Chief Leisure Officers Association
• “The Win Win Scenario (community sport and arts on education sites)” – a reference toolkit for schools, local authority officers and extended schools advisers (available to download on the Sport England and Partnerships for Schools websites).
• “Neighbourhood Renewal Toolkit” – preparation of sports theme papers on sport and regeneration.