Caerwent Community Sports Association It has been previously mentioned in the Community magazine that the first part of the bid to SPORTLOT for funding the multi-use sports court has been made - this was sent in on Monday 2 November and will be checked, then considered by SPORTLOT at their meeting in February 2001. We will then be asked to submit the second part of our application. In the second part we have to actually show that there is a Sports Association set up and that there is commitment from the community for running the Association, as well as for helping with/ coaching the sporting activities. We have to get serious commitment from people living in the area who are willing to join the committee, set up teams or clubs and either use their present coaching skills or be prepared to learn to coach the particular sport they are interested in, otherwise we could lose this facility to a community that does have the local support. The Sports Association will be a completely separate organisation with its own management committee and membership. At present the Caerwent Playing Fields Association and the Caerwent Community Centre (the "Old Gym") are working in partnership to get the facility set up, but this is not envisaged to continue once the Sports Association is under way. The multi-use sports court is planned to be in position during summer 2001. By that time, if we know our application has been successful, the Association will have a sports development plan in place which will involve all groups within the community - adults, juniors and the disabled - and we already have initial support from Youth Club and MENCAP. Sports programmes will be developed in whichever are the most popular, eg. Dragon Sports (7 - 11 age group), tennis, football, basketball, netball or hockey. This will be in conjunction with the Monmouthshire County Council Sports Development Officer and local coaches/sports leaders who put themselves forward. The aim of the Sports Association is to create a focal point from which to promote and develop sports in the community, which will lead to increased community participation, as well as encouraging a healthy lifestyle. There will also be a commitment to train and develop local coaches and sports leaders which will reinforce progression from within the community. If You are interested in supporting the Association, either by becoming involved in setting it up, or have commitment to/training in a particular sport and would enjoy helping to develop the project, please contact either Hilary Counsell (421307) or Wally Wenzel (430364) as we are intending starting up a register of interested people. December 2000