Active IQ has become the official lead sponsor of this year’s Community Sport and Recreation Awards (CSRAs).
Organised by the Sport and Recreation Alliance, the awards will be taking place virtually for the first time ever in its history on Thursday 11th March at 5pm.
For over 25 years, the Community Sport and Recreation Awards have showcased the positive impact of grassroots sport in local communities up and down the country.
In what has been a difficult year for sport, there’s never been a more important time to celebrate.
Active IQ sponsored the Mental Health & Wellbeing Award for the past two years before being invited by the Sport and Recreation Alliance to become the lead sponsor of this year’s event.
As part of its role, Active IQ has been involved in reviewing and marking each candidate’s entry and helping to decide on this year’s shortlisted nominees and overall winners.
84 applicants entered and are now going through a series of judging rounds. The awards will recognise 15 exceptional clubs and organisations across five different categories for their contribution to their communities.
This year’s awards are:
- Youth Development –celebrating clubs/programmes/schools that are engaging and significantly improving the lives of children and young people through either sport, recreation or physical activity.
The shortlisted nominees are: British Esports Association, Greenhouse Sports, Freestyle Urban Soccer CIC.
- Diversity and Inclusion – celebrating clubs and programmes that support under-represented groups through sport, recreation or physical activity. This award celebrates the work that community sport and recreation is doing in this very important area.
The shortlisted nominees are: Goalball UK, British Canoeing, Synergy Dance Outreach.
- Mental Health & Wellbeing – celebrating clubs and programmes that use the power of sport and recreation to promote and enhance positive wellbeing. Key to winning the award is the need to demonstrate the promotion of good health and wellbeing policies that encourage open conversations about mental health and physical wellbeing.
The shortlisted nominees are: Moving Forces, Active Cheshire and Age UK Cheshire (Walkeez Project), Exim Dance Company.
- Resilience in Adversity – a brand new award for 2021, this celebrates the methods which community clubs have used to keep their participants engaged during Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. With clubs across the UK forced to close and the public told to stay at home, the awards are recognising the outstanding projects that have supported grassroots activity and delivered differently this year.
The shortlisted nominees are City of Sheffield Diving Club, Move It or Lose It, Nottingham School of Boxing.
- Sustainable Programme – another new award for 2021, this has been introduced to reflect the growing need for organisations in and out of sport to be socially, environmentally and economically aware. The winner will be announced at the event.
“We are delighted to be involved as the lead sponsor for this year’s Community Sport and Recreation Awards,” says Jenny Patrickson, Managing Director for Active IQ.
“2020 was a difficult year for many and particularly for grassroots sport. So it is only right we take a moment to celebrate some of the amazing efforts local community sports clubs and programmes have made to help their community.
Sport and exercise can be powerful tools to help those through a difficult time and the ingenuity shown by entrants is humbling. I would like to wish all the finalists the very best of luck!”
“We are absolutely delighted to announce Active IQ as our main sponsors for the Community Sport and Recreation Awards this year,” says Lisa Wainwright, CEO for the Sport and Recreation Alliance.
“We share a commitment to making our sector inclusive for all and we are really excited to be continuing this partnership as we celebrate the very best of grassroots sport and recreation up and down the country.
The past 12 months have been like no other and we can’t wait to recognise all those who have helped the nation to stay active, healthy and happy at this incredibly challenging time.
It is a real shame that we won’t be able to do this in person, but our virtual ceremony promises to be a brilliant occasion for all involved.”