Y Pwyllgor Diwylliant, y Gymraeg a Chwaraeon

Adolygiad Polisi: Cyfraniad y Celfyddydau a Chwaraeon at Adfywio Cymunedol

Colin Crayford

Dear Madam Culture, Welsh Language and Sport Committee - Policy Review: The Contribution of Arts and Sport to Community Regeneration I refer to your letter dated 3 October 2003 requesting me to submit a contribution to your Committees’ Policy review.

1. Sport and Art and community regeneration are inevitably linked in some form or other. Be it finance as all are striving for the same financial parity and from the small amount of finance available after the statutory services have been financed and also, as they are very much dealing with the communities spare /leisure time. Unfortunately over the years art and sport have been treated differently as more finance has been pumped into the arts by Central Government whilst Local Government has tended to support sport. In essence both have their place in community regeneration although different area of Wales will have different requirements. Both art and sport are predominantly based around the voluntary sector with so many of the community undertaking the work purely for their own satisfaction and that of their community, and long may this continue. There are so many similarities that when you look at the organisations of both you can transfer the set up between the two. They both encourage community involvement, they both involve volunteers, they both in the main involve local finance and sponsorship, and they are both run by the community for the community. There are however a few differences, where the arts look at benefiting community "feel good" and pleasure, sport looks at the health, well being and also feel good factors.
2. There are so many examples where local art and sport projects contribute to community regeneration that a thesis could be written just on this topic. How the District Plans always identify art and sport for inward regeneration is important. They play a part in making the community feel good and vibrant; they provide the community spirit and bring the community together. Whenever a sports field or open space is under threat the community come together to oppose it. If a facility is to be closed or removed then the community come together. Therefore there is no doubt that both can regenerate community spirit. Example recently is how the community in the Vale of Glamorgan has rallied around to assist Barry Town FC proves that sport helps the regeneration of community spirit.
3. The support mechanisms are however fragmented. Both are discretionary services and when finance becomes short both will be "pinched" by the statutory services. If community regeneration is to be taken seriously both these services must become statutory before too long. If finance is to be continually removed the many involved in assisting in the regeneration will become totally disenchanted and stop being volunteers. Too often the volunteer is expected to give of their time, and then pay for the privilege. Too many activities are undertaken by many on the back of the few. They do not mind but there is a breaking point. In these days of continual involvement of the law, Health and Safety etc these volunteers have to be better trained but they normally have to pay for this privilege. It is about time that lottery money became available for the training of these people who do regenerate the community not for their time and effort but just to ensure that they able to perform better.
4. There are many examples of best practise in community regeneration. The setting up of Sport Disabled Units in local authorities to try and assist the disabled into the community, gain confidence, be part of the community is just one. The involvement of Sports Governing bodies in setting up forums to assist in the improvement of the administration and operation of particular sports is another. Many local authorities will be able to point to these successes, and how they work hand in hand with local arts and sports groups. The setting up of Sport Development Units, Arts Development Units all add to good practice. How the sports facilities are upgraded and refurbished, not closed down, is another example, which assists in community regeneration. The recent free swimming for children, funded by the Assembly, was without doubt a very good project. This should now be extended across all swimming, which will then encourage more people to take up physical activities assisting the Health Agenda. Sport and art is essential to maintaining good community spirit and help in fostering good community regeneration.

I do hope these comments will be of some assistance and please feel free to contact me further if you require any additional information Yours faithfully Colin Crayford