Programme selection

The Millennium Centre sits within the heart of the local community of Concord which is part of the North Washington ward. A ward ranked ninth in the city for indices of deprivation, it has high levels of unemployment and long term sickness, and suffers from higher than average levels of anti-social behaviour and youth alcohol disorder.

The centre is a community hub offering a range of activities for local people, with 29 voluntary sector groups using the facilities on site. Users range from toddlers in the crèche to pensioners who attend the lunch clubs.

Consultation was undertaken with local groups and residents including: local schools, Sunderland Housing Group, Northumbria Police, Positive Futures, Tackling Obesity, Junior Football Teams, and local young people. These groups all helped decide what facilities would be redeveloped and added to the site.

The funding provided by Barclays Spaces for Sports led to redevelopment of a seven-a-side floodlit third generation pitch, an outdoor games area and an extended community gym with the latest Technogym equipment - all in the heart of Washington’s Concord Estate.

The launch

Sunderland AFC Chairman Niall Quinn was joined by club captain Dean Whitehead at The Washington Millennium Centre on 18 April 2007, for its official opening.

SAFC Foundation Chairman Niall Quinn said: "I think it’s great that the club is supporting Barclays Spaces for Sports with the creation of these new facilities. Sunderland Football Club is committed to promoting sport and fitness and this will provide a much needed multi-sports area for local people."

Director of Community and Cultural Services at Sunderland City Council, Paul Dobson, said: "Sunderland City Council is delighted to support this initiative which will provide high quality sports and leisure facilities for the local community. Young people particularly need to get actively involved in sports such as football and this new venue will certainly help."

Site use and achievements

The development sought to give over 350 people a year the opportunity to take regular exercise, offer 650 young people classed as hard-to-reach the chance to benefit from football related social and personal development programmes, allow 24 families to access unique family learning projects and offer at least 12 opportunities for volunteers / trainees and disability and female focussed sessions.

The Washington Millennium Centre is already well used by the community and has set the following targets for 2010:

• A high proportion of children and young people from North Washington will have experienced football or sports related educational and leisure activities
• A number of adults will have experienced education and accreditation through fitness and football
• Local residents will have benefited from the wider impacts of the schemes including a safer, healthier community
• Pathways to sports for local people will be developed

The Gym was extended and refurbished and in its previous life had about 200 regular users - that figure has now grown to 450 with 1,400 new members since April 07. The users are predominately female and many older people who were previously non traditional gym members.

The centre has had to do very little to promote the gym as most of the new members have been recruited by `word of mouth` and many comment on how it’s not like a normal gym – it’s friendly and people feel comfortable using it to exercise.

The centre has been able to develop a partnership with the local secondary schools and support a young apprentice pilot where students come on long term placement to gain experience and skills. These young people develop the confidence to perform all the tasks the centre staff do; carrying out inductions, advising users on training and updating information on the computer. This work is part of a national pilot link to young apprentices and is unique, offering students hands-on experience and qualifications so they are employable at 16, helping Sunderland to grow its future workforce.

Sustainability

The centre has a clear development plan which was co-produced by SAFC, Washington Millennium Centre and the City Council.

With revenue funding provided by Barclays Spaces for Sports, a full-time Football Development Officer has been employed. They will develop the use of the pitch to offer a balanced programme of activity with particular emphasis on local youngsters. This post is line managed by SAFC and hosted by the Millennium Centre, to keep the partnership working.

Barclays staff have developed a very positive relationship with the SAFC Foundation and the Millennium Centre through various events. SAFC Foundation staff helped organise and provide activities for BarclaysCharity Fun Day. Barclays employees also took part in SAFC Foundation’s Zipping the Light Fantastic event, where they zipwired across the Stadium of Light.

SAFC Foundation is keen to develop its relationship with Barclays, so as to provide Washington Millennium Centre with financial advice.