In helping and encouraging youngsters to increase and improve their participation in exercise and sport at all levels, the Chelmsford School Sports Partnership (CSSP) has gone from strength-to-strength since launching in 2003 and is one of the most successful in the country. Its fantastic progress is set to continue with a further two-year sponsorship by Beaulieu, the new residential quarter located to the north east of the city, which will feature sports facilities and open green spaces and parks for younger residents to play, exercise and participate in sport.

In the academic year 2015/16, over 11,000 pupils across 61 schools in and around Chelmsford took part in PE and sports sessions overseen by the Partnership. Countryside and L&Q, the developers of Beaulieu have provided additional funding and support that has helped improve the sporting opportunities available for young people in the area.

The Chelmsford School Sport Partnership has been rated among the top 10% of Partnerships in the whole country by the Youth Sport Trust. Last year, it ran 134 school sports competitions, 32 training courses for over 600 teachers, and helped 33 primary schools achieve the much-coveted ‘School Games Mark’.

Under the leadership of Sara Robson, the Partnership helps promote and develop physical education for all abilities and provides opportunities for all pupils to take part in sporting competitions via the school games programme.

Sara Robson, School Games Organiser for the Chelmsford School Sport Partnership said: “The Partnership programme has been important in increasing sporting opportunities for the young people of Chelmsford and delivering competitions for all abilities.

“We also aim to encourage the less active to do physical activity, develop more disability sport and help promote active and healthy lifestyles. Thanks to Beaulieu for their sponsorship and support - we are proud of what the partnership has achieved in the past year and we are looking forward to building on that in the years ahead.”

Andrew Carrington, Managing Director of Strategic Land at Countryside said: “We are delighted to continue Beaulieu’s sponsorship of the Chelmsford School Sport Partnership and it is a credit to Sara Robson and her team that the partnership has been so successful in driving school sports participation. With plans now well advanced for a brand new school at Beaulieu, which will provide both primary and secondary education, provision of excellent education including sports is high on the agenda for Beaulieu.”

Jerome Geoghegan, Group Director, Development and Sales, at L&Q said: “A central element of the design of Beaulieu is to create a place where people are encouraged to get out and be active, which is why its public open spaces, green areas and sports facilities are so important. The schools partnership is doing an excellent job at increasing sports participation among young people and we hope that the provision of sports and outdoor facilities at Beaulieu will help make sure that sport becomes a part of every day life for the whole community here.”

The Chelmsford School Sport Partnership was launched in September 2003 and continues to work with all 61 schools in the area, including eight secondary state schools, two special schools and 54 primary schools. It offers support to all schools on competitive high quality PE, leadership opportunities, support for students identified as gifted and talented, coaching, INSET and access to funding. It has developed links with National Governing bodies and clubs, working in partnership to develop young people’s interest and participation in sport and drive through government targets for primary and secondary schools.

To find out more information about Beaulieu, please visit www.beaulieu.uk.com