Five-year plan to be firmly steered
THE Guernsey Sports Commission admits it will be shifting its position as overall governors of island sport.
In releasing its five-year Action Plan, Graham Chester, the commission’s long-serving operations director, said it was time for a change of emphasis: ‘We are going to be less the friendly co-passenger and more driver of the bus.’
The action plan, which precedes the island sports strategy to be debated in the States in February 2020, is based upon the aforementioned Education, Sport & Culture Sports Strategy.
'It has not been set up in isolation', says Chester and GSC performance director Jeremy Frith’.
‘It has also been set up with the children and old people’s plan, and health and weight strategy,’ said Chester, who has been an ever-present face of the commission since it was formed in 2004.
‘We have got more delegated responsibility from government and we are now wanting to take a more leadership role,’ said Frith.
‘We are here to help and not dictate,’ said Chester.
The new strategy focuses on eight key elements: leadership and governance; inclusion; school physical activity and sport partnership; community sports; workforce development; Guernsey Institute of Sport; facilities; and grants and funding.
The vision is simple enough: In its own words – ‘everyone in Guernsey should have the opportunity and support to participate and compete, and fulfil their potential no matter what their background, age, or level of ability, in a safe and supportive environment’.
The report, titled ‘Your Champions in Sport’, goes into some depth as to what needs to be done in the short and medium term.
More in today's Guernsey Press.
