“Specfit” - A Programme Supporting Local Sports Clubs to Deliver Public Health Initiatives

Wigan Borough Sports Council, in partnership with the public health team at Wigan Council, secured funding to support local sports clubs in building capacity and capability to deliver public health initiatives.This funding was used to establish the Specfit programme for sports clubs in September 2013, which aims to improve the long-term health and social wellbeing of spectators, family members, staff, visitors and the local community, by tapping into the unique opportunity that sports clubs have to extend activity and awareness.Under this programme, sports clubs must identify a lead to act as a community health champion. The identified individual attends a one day training course where they receive further insight into the funding available, and the criteria against which the applications will be assessed, and are also trained in the nationally accredited Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH) Level 2 award - Understanding Health Improvement. Once this training has been completed clubs can submit bids to the Specfit panel.