new groups

Whilst Pride Games has been a vehicle for LGBT sports development, and has resulted in a significant growth in LGBT sports activity, certainly in the North West, Pride Sports has also provided year round capacity building support for new and established LGBT sports groups. Since 2007, Pride Sports has launched 6 new sports groups, providing financial start-up packages, links to National Governing Bodies, marketing support, support to access to local sports facilities, and access to sponsorship. In addition, Pride Sports has provided fundraising support and capacity building services to a further fourteen LGBT sports groups.

Pride Sports also produces an annual LGBT sports and activity guide to Greater Manchester, Out & Active, which is funded through sales of advertising. The 32 page comprehensive guide, which provides free editorial space for all of Manchester’s LGBT sports and activity groups, has seen 20,000 copies distributed across the region over a two-year period.

The launch of Manchester’s LGBT Community Sports Awards in 2009, which were supported by Manchester Leisure and the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation amongst others, provide a vehicle not only for recognising the wealth of talent and commitment seen in LGBT community sport across Greater Manchester, but also provide a vehicle for raising the aspirations of LGBT sports groups. Small financial rewards for nominated sports groups also help the growth of the sector on a local level.

Pride Sports will help groups with:

•    establishing effective governance
•    accessing resources
•    sports development expertise
•    getting in touch with national governing bodies (NGBs)
•    player and coach development
•    recruitment and retention of volunteers
•    sponsorship
•    fundraising support

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Hot off the press!! see the Social Investment Almanack 2009 PDF download