Three Hills Community Hub

Organisation

Situated on the outskirts of Folkestone, Three Hills Sports Park is home to a variety of different sports clubs and is open to members of the public as well as resident sports club members. The site works closely with Shepway Sports Trust to help offer affordable physical activity opportunities for the local community

Project

The hub used their staff and volunteers to deliver activities to communities in need of support and help to get out and get active. The sessions included:

• Hockey sessions for girls aged 11-16 years
• Exercise classes for the over 50’s
• Football sessions developed with Kent Refugee Action Network

I feel healthier, more active and more confident. I enjoyed the social side of the classes. We often meet for coffee afterwards now.

Participant

Impact

• An increase in confidence and activity levels in the 0ver 50’s group
• Coaching from an international hockey player created a role model for the girls and increased their skills and knowledge of the game
• The football sessions enabled refugees to play sport together in a social and supportive environment
• Participants have developed the confidence to join other programmes the park offers

I enjoyed the classes, they gave me a good workout and mentally cheered me up.  The teacher was excellent and the music was good. I also thought the space was good in the hall for social distancing.

Participant

Top Tips

Develop exit routes – Three Hills worked alongside Shepway Sports Trust to develop exit routes. Many of the over 50’s now attend a dedicated Active 50 programme the trust runs.

Think about your marketing – Many of the over 50’s do not have social media so referrals came from family and friends. Consider other ways to target your audience through leaflet drops and other local partners.

Link with local partners – Working with partners in the area such as schools, trusts and community clubs will increase your reach and support exit routes.