In 2003, Sport England made a proportion of its Lottery funding, through the Green Spaces programme, available to provide street sports facilities. Knight, Kavanagh & Page (KKP) supported Derby City Council (DCC) to secure over £225,000 of funding for three sites in the most deprived communities of Derby.

Consultation with young people formed an integral element of the process. Focus groups with young people identified appropriate locations. They also selected equipment for each of the sites. This process secured the ownership of young people and is reflected in the fact that all the sites are well used.

(Image: securing street sports funding)Open sessions were held at each of the three sites to allow local residents to raise any concerns. The presence of KKP staff at these meant these were addressed at source and, again, community ownership of the sites was secured.

This was supplemented by a large household survey to ensure wider concerns were incorporated into site design and management.

In addition to consultation and design work, KKP prepared a development plan drawing together all the agencies working in the area including DCC, Sporting Future and the Inner City Sports Forum. This has led to a coordinated programme of activity for young people in the area, mixing formal coaching with informal play. The involvement of young people in site management has ensured the views of young people continue to be heard and addressed.