Our 2016/17 Highlights

Leicester-Shire & Rutland Sport 2016/17 Annual Review

Leicester-Shire & Rutland Sport (LRS) is a partnership of the Local Authorities of Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland working together with schools, National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs), clubs, coaches and volunteers to create a lasting legacy for sport and physical activity.

It has been another fantastic year for sport and physical activity. From the dizzy heights of winning the Premier League, Leicester City Football Club confounded many observers with their strong run to the Champions League Quarter Finals. Success continued for Leicester Riders as they bedded down in the fabulous new Leicester Arena, completing a memorable treble.

The world of sport policy also had some highlights with the publication of the new, outcome focused strategy 'Towards an Active Nation' launched by Sport England in May 2016. The new strategy focuses on addressing inactivity by using insight, behaviour change and customer service principles to catalyse a change in participation rates and to lead future investment decisions. When we look back at the successes of this past year we are delighted to present a few notable firsts:

• The Leicester Business Festival included for the first time a sport and physical activity theme
• which we helped to programme and develop.
• We ran the first sub-regional Community Sport Celebration Event at Leicester Arena, attracting
• nearly 300 participants, coaches, volunteers and their families. The event was sponsored
• admirably by De Montfort University.
• We are the first County Sports Partnership to produce a Sport and the Economy Growth Strategy.
• In 2017/18, we will have appointed the first officer in England who will be working to support
• over 500 sport businesses grow their combined gross value added beyond the current £513
• million.
• We were also delighted to play our part in supporting the first ever National School Games to be
• held at Loughborough University, which attracted 1,600 athletes and 500 local event volunteers.
• We helped Samworth Brothers to invest their first £1 million through their Sport Opportunity
• Fund, an incredible commitment by a local company that focuses on local places and people.
• We were the first County Sports Partnership to achieve an 'Excellent' rating in the new Quest for
• Active Communities external assessment.

Sport and Physical Activity play a key part in creating healthy and vibrant communities, however, partners and funders find it an increasingly difficult area to justify investment when there are so many competing priorities. As we look to the future, the partnership-wide Strategy for Physical Activity and Sport 2017- 21 will shape the work that we do to support sport and physical activity in our counties, city, districts and boroughs.