Cheshire Hockey Development Group

 

Progress Report – Cheshire HA AGM – May 06

 

September 2005 saw the appointment of a part-time Hockey Development Officer for Cheshire and Warrington (Mark Bateman). A first!!

 

Background

Cheshire was identified by England Hockey (EH) as one of 5 hockey areas which had not had the opportunity to access development monies and was the County HA was invited to establish a HDG comprising of representatives of all elements of hockey development.  The Group therefore includes representation from CHA, EH, local authorities (Sport Cheshire, the 6 Borough Councils in Cheshire and Warrington BC), the 3 Schools and Youth Associations and, importantly, Clubs. It is integrated within the CHA, is responsible for delivering the National Hockey Strategy in Cheshire and has attracted funding to enable it to do so.

 

Through Active Sports, both Greater Manchester and Merseyside have received development monies for hockey and through appointed HDOs have been working to a development plan for a number of years.  A number of Cheshire HA affiliated clubs are located in Wirral and South Manchester have accessed and will continue to access, development funds from these sources.

The CHDG is responsible for hockey in the rest of Cheshire but works closely with the other two areas in support of all Cheshire hockey.

 

With the appointment of the HDO the Group achieved its first year key priority.  Mark’s role has been to deliver the first year of the Whole Sport Plan.  The Group has met bi-monthly to receive an update from Mark on progress, to discuss developments and to continue planning.

 

Amongst the Achievements for 2005/06 are:

§         Provided first contact details for individuals, clubs, etc on all hockey matters

§         Established and developed a range of sustainable networks with all partners, both within the Cheshire Association and other agencies

§         Set up links with School Sports Partnerships and began gathering detail on needs and ways HDO can support and work with

§         Supported developing Club / School links

§         Provided subsidies for individuals from Cheshire clubs and associations on coaching and umpiring courses;

§         Ran a Clubs 1^st workshop and provided regular support to Clubs considering and/or working towards Clubs 1^st Accreditation;

§         Young umpires and young leaders programmes being developed;

§         Engaged with new and established Clubs to support with resources. Advice, etc

§         Running Level One Coaching Course in June and promoting Level 2 course places;

§         Enabled formal link with England Hockey (national and regional) through representing Cheshire at national and regional events;

§         Preparing an activity map of Junior Clubs for distribution at Cheshire Youth Games;

§         Set up and run Girls U13 Assessment and Development Centre, working closely with the Cheshire Schoolgirls Association to sustain long-term

 

but most of all, everyone associated with hockey in Cheshire is working together for the benefit of our sport and long may it continue.

 

Future action

As last year, this will clearly depend on EH attracting funding for grass roots hockey and therefore to sustain the HDO post.  However, whatever the outcome, much energy will continue to be put into delivering as much of the Plan as possible within the limitations of an organisation of volunteers.

 

You can keep up-to-date on progress via the CHA website www.cha.uk.net

 

Elaine Beech

Chair

Cheshire Hockey Development Group