A COUNCIL has agreed to harness the power of sport to boost wellbeing in its area – and to try and reduce the strain on public services.
There is no specific funding allocated to the plan but the intention is to work with sports clubs on promoting their activities and making use of them and activities as well as for GPs and services to advice people on how they can take up exercise.
Having “quality facilities in the right places” is also highlighted and how Torfaen Borough Council should try and maximise available funding for sports and leisure facilities, including money for community benefits from new planning permissions.
Council leader Anthony Hunt said new 3G football pitches are currently being built across the borough but wider use of them should be encouraged.
“We need to make sure they attract new people and it’s not just the same people using them and I say that as a football coach who is one of the same old people who will be using them,” said the Panteg councillor and junior football coach.
Cllr Fiona Cross, who is responsible for the plan, said it is about making the most of the various sports clubs in Torfaen and how they encourage people to volunteer and how that can tackle loneliness as well as improving their physical fitness.
The Cwmbran Coed Eva member said: “I’m rather keen on my chosen activity, running is my big thing and our sports clubs contribute so much.”
A council web page on the plan was visited 600 times and prompted a higher than normal 219 responses that showed people dont’t take part in sport due to their poor current health or fitness, they aren’t aware of the activities available and are anxious about meeting new people or fear they may not be good enough.
Cllr Cross said it is intended to counter that narrative and it has also been suggested the council could promote community sport champions as well as celebrating those competing at the highest level.
Other proposals include making Torfaen a destination for cycling and for hosting junior sports tournaments and the council being an “active player not a passive spectator” which is a recognition “sport and leisure can make a significant contribution to wellbeing and ultimately reduce demands on statutory services”.
The five themes are identified in the sports and leisure chapter which the cabinet agreed will be incorporated into the council Community Wellbeing Strategy intended to support communities and place wellbeing and prevention as cornerstone in how it designs services.