Peak sports project honoured by Prime Minister

A ground-breaking project aimed at boosting sports participation across Derbyshire has been honoured by the Prime Minister.

The Derbyshire Village Games initiative, developed by the Community Sports Trust (CST), has scooped a Big Society Award from David Cameron.

Working with community associations and sports organisations, local councils, funding bodies and private companies, the Village Games scheme has boosted sporting opportunities for all ages.

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Since 2010 it has helped develop sporting communities in more than 100 villages, establishing over 200 local clubs, classes and activities and recruiting 2,500 coaches and volunteers. It has also supported nearly 200 local events, including 60 ‘Community Games’.

The vision for the project came from Hayley Lever and Andrea Kemp, who ran sports schemes in their respective communities of Chinley and Grindleford.

Hayley, a CST founder board member and now Director of Derbyshire Sport, said the award was a ‘huge honour’, adding: “It’s been amazing to see how the project has acted as a catalyst, strengthening community spirit, helping people have fun, make friends and get fitter.”