Sport and Physical Activity Alliances (SPAAs)
SPAA's (Sport And Physical Activity Alliances) are a key component of the Delivery System for Sport; they are the strategy and delivery groups for national, regional and local targets.
Lancashire has 14 SPAA's based within local authority boundaries. These SPAA's provide a voice for local bodies and networks to improve and add value to existing activity and investment to achieve the delivery systems overall aims :-
- increasing participation and
- widening access to sport and physical activity for all members of the community.
What are SPAAs?
SPAAs are not a new concept. Where they already exist, they have evolved from the recognition that organisations at a local level with similar objectives can achieve more if they work together. In essence SPAAs are:
- A group of local delivery agents, based within Local Authority boundary areas and usually Local Authority driven (there is however no prescriptive structure)
- Have a shared vision and common goals for delivering sport and physical activity
- Act as the voice for sport and physical activity in a local area - as recognised by all major agencies including Governing bodies, Local Strategic Partnerships and Sport England.
- Consist of membership of key local stakeholders (voluntary, public sector, private sector)
- Have a balance between strategy and delivery
- Are responsible to the Local Strategic Partnership (e.g. representation and reporting link to a sub group of the LSP) and act as the delivery mechanism for targets set out in Local Area Agreements / Comprehensive Performance Assessment specific to sport and physical activity outcomes
- For Sport England they are an Integral element of the delivery system for Community Sport, along with the County Sport Partnerships (Lancashire Sport), through which investment can be made, improvements can be measured and lessons can be learned.
The key functions of SPAA's are to :-
- Increase participation in Sport and Physical Activity
- Widen access to Sport and Physical Activity
- Bring together and align partners exiting priorities and targets within one joined up local delivery plan for support and active recreation within the SPAA area, based upon the needs of the local communities and ensuring clarity in roles and responsibilities
If you require any more general information on SPAA's please contact our Sporting Infrastructure team.
SPAAs in Lancashire
Each local authority area has it's own SPAA. For more information on your local SPAA, please select a district below: