Cheshire and Warrington Sports Partnership Trust

Cheshire & Warrington Sports Partnership Trust is one of only a handful of the 49 CSP’s that is registered as a charity – most are part of a local authority.

The Trust (originally called the Cheshire Sports Trust) was established by Cheshire County Council as an independent charitable company in 1989. In its early years, funded by the County Council and commercial sponsorship, the Trustees awarded small grants to groups and individuals that were able to demonstrate a unique and valuable contribution to meeting the needs of the Cheshire community for access to improved opportunities for sport and active recreation.

 

The second phase of the Trust’s development began in 1995 when it absorbed the County Council’s sports development function. This phase involved the permanent transfer of staff and budgets and was a period of significant growth that culminated in the appointment of a new Chief Executive with significantly expanded roles and responsibilities. The strategic, sub-regional role of the Trust as a sports development agency grew with this appointment. The Cheshire district councils and Sport England were instrumental in supporting these changes and the Trust’s reputation as an innovative and progressive organisation grew. This phase also saw an increase in the number of Trustees and an expansion in the range of their skills and experience.

 

In 2001 the Trust assumed lead role in the Cheshire and Warrington County Sports Partnership, a quasi-corporate mechanism developed by Sport England to link the national agenda to the local areas. This phase initally brought further growth in budgets and staffing.

 

In 2009 the Partnership was formalised and brought together by amendments to the Company’s name, structure and membership. The Company, now known as the Cheshire and Warrington Sports Partnership Trust Ltd., delivers a wide range of public benefit through the medium of sport on behalf of a range of partners and clients. As an independent agency, the Partnership interprets national and regional policy, supporting key partners that include clubs and coaches, schools colleges and universities, local authorities, health care providers, primary care trusts and National Governing Bodies, in the delivery of their local objectives.  We work collectively to drive up participation.  Added to this, we have the unique opportunity of using London 2012 to aspire increased activity within our local area.The Sports Partnership is likely to play a key part in the emerging Sub-Regional architecture which is currently being developed by the Leadership Group of the three unitary authorities in the sub-region.