PODCAST – Black Country Schools Celebrate Success of Opening School Facilities Programme

Active Black Country’s latest podcast focuses on the significant impacts of the Opening School Facilities (OSF) programme, a Department for Education-funded initiative to support schools to open their sports facilities to both school and community users outside of curriculum time.

Increasing the range of physical assets, networks, facilities and places to get people active is a key strategic objective for Active Black Country and considerable progress was made.

We identified schools in places that would benefit the most from the OSF intervention thanks to input from Black Country partners, including the public health teams from the four local authorities.

Sam and Matt share some interesting insights about how the programme was delivered. The initiative helped reactivate previously underused school facilities to increase youngsters’ participation in extracurricular activities, whilst strengthening community engagement and boosting activity levels.

Crucially, the OSF programme is leaving a positive legacy – both highlight the sustainability of projects for the longer term at their respective schools.

Thanks to Sam and Matt for contributing to the podcast.