Access Sport
Access Sport exists to encourage youth participation in sport
through the nation's network of clubs, in partnership with companies and
charitable partners investing in local communities.
Access Sport has been created to encourage grass-roots youth participation in
sport through the existing network of clubs, in partnership with major
corporations wanting to align their brands with (and invest in) community
sport. It is seeking to address rising obesity levels and other health and
social issues such as juvenile delinquency by engaging young people in active
sporting programmes within their community. In order to ensure a consistent
approach to grass-roots sports development, Access Sport consults with Sport
England and the governing bodies of major active sports.
Our Objectives
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To raise funds for the promotion of fitness and fun through quality sporting
programmes that are accessible and affordable to young people
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To achieve the marketing/commercial objectives of Access Sport sponsorship
partners
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To support and ‘educate’ sports clubs in terms of improving their marketing
commercial orientation
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To partner with key sports organisations (e.g. Sport England, major governing
bodies) so that Access Sport programmes are linked with national sporting
frameworks
The Channel Paddle
Having secured his second Olympic gold medal in the searing heat of Athens,
British rower James Cracknell has dispensed with his trusty oar to take on a
gruelling charity challenge. Whilst it took James 200 rowing strokes to secure
Olympic glory last summer, his latest challenge, a race across the English
Channel on a surf board, will require a staggering 60,000 paddles – using only
his bare hands!
A real test of endurance, the double Olympic Champion and keen surfer will race
alongside friend Peter Craske to set the fastest time possible across the
channel to raise money for Access Sport, a charity that promotes the
participation of young people in sport through community sports clubs. Every
paddle will raise valuable funds that will allow the charity to continue to
provide youngsters with new sporting opportunities & increased availability to
sport through their network of affiliated clubs.
The punishing challenge was the brainchild of Peter Craske, owner of the Surf’s
Up Surf School in Polzeath, Cornwall, who was concerned that despite
undertaking the Flora London Marathon, James might get lazy during his year’s
break from rowing!
“James often comes to our surf lodge in Polzeath to get away from things – we
were talking about interesting challenges and the next thing I know we’re on
for a race to set the fastest time possible across the Channel – his athletic
prowess combined with my years of surfing – it’s a team effort to set an
interesting time for the next lot who are mad enough to try it!” commented
Peter.
Sea conditions permitting, the intrepid duo will depart from Folkestone on their
specially designed 14 foot wave piercing surf boards between the 1st and 10th
September. The pair will have to combat the channel’s strong winds and infamous
currents during an estimated 22 mile crossing that is predicted to take an
exhausting 10 solid hours of paddling.
‘I can’t resist a challenge and after the marathon I thought I’d take on
something a little bit different’, commented James. ‘Pete and I are going to
work together to achieve something special – at the very least my surfing
should improve and we will raise thousands of pounds for Access Sport’.
Unsure of what lies ahead of them, James and Peter have sought advice from
veterans of the arduous Molakhi race – a punishing 30 mile paddle across rough
Hawaiian waters. Indeed the unique surf boards that James and Peter will use
were crafted by an Australian board shaper whose designs have helped several
competitors conquer the Molakhi challenge.
If you would like to encourage James and Peter and support Access Sport,
donations or messages of encouragement can be made online at www.justgiving.com/channelpaddle.
How you can help Access Sport
EcoReports has secured a special arrangement with Good Energy to support Access Sport.
Simply switch your electricity supply to Good Energy and £15 will be
donated on your behalf to Access Sport. Furthermore,
you'll benefit from the knowledge that your electricity supply is from 100%
renewable sources!
Update
On Sunday 11th September James and Pete crossed the Channel in 5 hours 26
minutes, beating the world record by a staggering 1 hour 26 minutes.
Congratulations to both of them and to everyone who has helped Access Sport and
the environment by switching their electricity to a 100% renewable supply. If
you would like to add to the money raised and help support Access Sport you can
still do so by following the instructions on this page - Thank you !