The facility for the original expression of interest and the now live booking for sports has been organised, built and run on the Sports Junction™ website. This mammoth task is just one of the facilities that goes toward fulfilling this UK charity’s aim which is to see at least one million more children and young adults taking part in sports by 2012.
The immense communications power of the internet is something that the two Bucks based founders of Sports Junction™ Mike Price and Denville Reed, came to terms with immediately, basing their work around this medium to target their audience. “The system that we are using is a first in the UK for it’s capabilities and this is a great chance for us to really engage the youngsters within an environment that they recognise. Getting the message about sports out to young people is one thing, getting them to actively engage with it is another. We are determined that sports become a real future for many of them who may not otherwise have considered it”. Say Mike Price.
The website powerfully engages coaches, parents, schools, sports clubs, local authorities and all interested parties in the region, its aim to link them together, focusing itself as the central hub. The eventual content ‘drivers’ of the site will be the participants, allowing it to grow in the most effective and appropriate way.
“We’re still in the early stages as far as development of the Site’s potential goes, this is an organic process which takes on more and more life as we move forward”, Says Mike.
Support for the charity has come thick and fast, both because of the aims and because of the technology involved. Bucks County Council, Bucks Sport and BT have been keen from the outset and have become strong supporters joined recently by Sport England.
In addition to the very practical results of stimulating increased awareness of the positive values of sport for young people, the project will produce real numbers of participants in the Buckinghamshire region, giving the County Council effective and useable information. Both long and short term benefits are envisaged with relevant stakeholder groups being able to better manage and develop participant activity such as club membership and coaching support.
Neil Gibson – Strategic Director for Transportation, Economy and Environment and London 2012 co-ordinator for Buckinghamshire County Council welcomes the initiative, “This is a great opportunity to give the children and young adults in our region increased access to a whole range of sporting contacts and support bodies. Being involved as a strategic partner is excellent and links effectively with our regional plan for a lasting legacy of inspirational and motivational opportunities as a result of the Olympics being staged in London in 2012”.
Director for Bucks Sport Lee Mason feels equally enthusiastic, “This can only be a good thing. Sports Junction’s initiatives very much follow our own on sport leading up to and providing us with, a legacy of the 2012 Olympic Games. The resulting increased information will lead to improved communication and shared good practice. A really positive move. ”
Duncan Ingram, Group Director, BT London 2012, welcomes this motivational move “Helping youngsters to find a niche in sport reflects BT’s long-standing commitment to education, coaching and mentoring. We’re committed to releasing the potential of aspiring young British athletes and helping them to best develop their abilites. The legacy that we help to create will be an improved inspirational and motivational playing field, built and driven by a network of committed supporters”.