What is Manchester United flagship?
The Old Trafford Sports Barn (OTSB) is located in Seymour Park, Old Trafford. Old Trafford is situated in the north of the borough adjacent to Moss Side and Hulme in Manchester. They share many of the same social and economic problems but Old Trafford lacks access to the same levels of external government support.
Old Trafford is the most disadvantaged neighbourhood in Trafford. It comprises the wards of Clifford and parts of Talbot. The total population of the neighbourhood is 18,271 (2001 Census). It is a predominantly young population with more than 45% of residents aged under 30 compared with 36% in Trafford and 37% nationally. It is also a very ethnically diverse community with 40 different ethnic groups identified in a recent study carried out into housing needs in Trafford by University of Salford.
Background
The 2004 Indices of Deprivation show large parts of Clifford and Talbot are within the top 5% most deprived wards in England. Particular concerns focus upon low income – some of the output areas in Clifford rank in the poorest 5% nationally and all of the wards are within the 15% poorest in the UK. Allied to low incomes are very high rates of unemployment.
Linked to these issues are low levels of basic skills and poor educational achievement. Work carried out by the Basic Skills Agency in 2000/01 indicates that 28.8% in Clifford and 27.8% in Talbot had poor literacy skills and the 2003 GCSE results for Stretford High School which the majority of young people from the neighbourhood attend, show that only 23% achieved 5 or more GCSE passes grade A-C compared with 62% in Trafford as a whole.
Developing activity and skills
Old Trafford Sports Barn provides opportunities for all ages of the local community to be involved in physical activity. Since the Sports Barn opened in September 2006 attendances at the facility have exceeded 10,000 visits per annum across a whole range of activities and sessions. Particularly encouraging has been the take-up by disadvantaged groups who previously had not taken part in regular sport or physical activity.
With more than 50 different ethnic groups living in the ward with a variety of different cultural and religious backgrounds, the impact on females participating in physical activity has been excellent.
Visitors to the facility have included Tony Blair, Sir Alex Ferguson, Ryan Giggs, Darren Gough, Tracey Neville (Netball), Sir Bobby Carlton, Owen Hargreaves and Rio Ferdinand.
Impact to date
Whilst it is impossible to prove that any reduction in crime is due specifically to the introduction of Old Trafford Sports Barn, all of the key partners in the Old Trafford ward indicate that the facility and staff have contributed greatly to the local people, especially young people taking more community responsibility and ownership which in turn has led to improved behaviour and reduced crime.
Old Trafford has been assessed as one of the most improving wards in the UK and the reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour has played a significant part in this. Between 2009-2010 the following reductions in crime have been recorded:
• Overall Crime - Down by 10%
• Criminal Damage - Down by 21%
• Theft of Motor vehicles - Down by 22%
• Miscellaneous Crime - Down by 25%
• Wounding - Down by 20%
The OTSB has become a second home for many local youngsters often turning up on their way home from school. There are numerous formal and informal sessions and many of the young people have taken ownership and responsibility for both themselves and their friends. This ownership has also resulted in no vandalism taking place at the Sports Barn, although many neighbouring facilities do suffer.
User experiences - Female Participation Development Officer – Selina Murphy
In continuing the development of TUF*C, the Old Trafford Sports Barn and what it provides for the community, the appointment of the Female Participation Development Officer was made to build on the success the Trafford Community Leisure Trust had already achieved, develop more activities and sessions for females and assist females to maximise the opportunities that are available.
Selina Murphy, an Old Trafford resident, who had been through the TUF*C Leadership programme was appointed to the role and commenced her duties at the start of April 2008.
Selina Murphy joined TUF*C as a female volunteer shortly before the Old Trafford Sports Barn opened. The regular Urban Leisure sessions at Old Trafford Sports Barn and neighbouring Stretford Leisure Centre provided her with paid employment for the first time. As a result of her development and progression just over two years ago Selina was offered the post of TUF*C Female Coordinator and has now established herself so considerably through the impact she has made on the community that she has developed the role into a full-time permanent post and is well on the way to a successful career. Selina has been so successful that the Trust has now core funded the post.
Selina says “Without Old Trafford Sports Barn and TUF*C I would have no job and no future. I love my job and seeing the benefits they can receive by exercising. It’s very rewarding. The Sports Barn is loved by the whole community of Old Trafford and they believe it is theirs and that is why it is well looked after and well used”
For the full case study please contact - nick.stone@footballfoundation.org.uk
