Harrogate Borough Council
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Sports Development
Welcome to the Sports Development Scheme
The Sports Development Scheme operates within the wider Community Services Department of Harrogate Borough Council.
The Scheme aims to provide the opportunity for all young people in the district to take part in physical activity and sport at whatever level they wish, to support individuals to maximise their sporting abilities and provide pathways to sporting excellence.
The Sports Development Team delivers an extensive range of coach education courses, funding workshops and club development courses as well as regular coached activities and events throughout the district in its schools, sports centres and community centres.
Meet the Team
From L-R: John Mcgivern, Jo Armstrong, Lindsay Spicer, Helen
Dennis
John Mcgivern
Senior Sports Development Officer
Phone: 01423 556729
John has worked for Harrogate Borough Council for over 18
years and brings a wealth of experience from facility management,
coaching and sports development across the Sport and Leisure
service.
As the Senior Sports Development Officer, John manages the
day-to-day activities of the Sports Development Team, and is the
lead officer for project management, building capacity,
funding and investment, club development and facility development
community projects, working closely with the Project Development
Officer on some of these areas.
John also works closely with partners including the Harrogate
District Sports Council and North Yorkshire Sport, as well as many
other agencies and National Governing Bodies of Sport, to lead the
strategic development of sporting opportunities throughout the
district.
Jo Armstrong
Sport & Play Development Officer
Phone: 01423 556745
Jo has worked for Harrogate Borough Council since December
2005, and has previous experience of being a Children's Activity
Programme Manager for Esporta in Leeds, working with the PCT in
Leeds on a childhood weight management and physical activity
programme, and also working for Kidology International offering
consultation and training packages based on children's fitness and
effective programming for the family market. She has a degree
in Leisure and Sports Management from Leeds Metropolitan
University.
Jo manages the sports development programme running at the
Granby Sport and Play Development Centre, which currently comprises
of Cheerleading (recreation and squad) and Gymnastics activities.
She also leads on cheerleading development across the district,
including coach development, school links and competitions.
As Jo has a background in health and physical activity, she
leads on physical activity and healthy living projects for the
team, 16-19 participation projects, and the Sport Unlimited funding
initiative for Harrogate on behalf of North Yorkshire Sport.
Click here for the term time programme at the Granby Sport and
Play Development Centre.
Click here for the Harrogate Hornets cheerleading club's
website:
www.harrogatehornetscheerleaders.co.uk
Lindsay Spicer
Sports Development Officer
Phone: 01423 556725
Lindsay has worked for Harrogate Borough Council since January
2006. Prior to this she worked as a PE teacher at a large sports
college in Hull. She completed a degree in Physical Education with
Geography at York St John University and then a PGCE in Physical
Education at Durham University.
As the Sports Development Officer, Lindsay works predominantly
on projects aimed at increasing participation amongst children and
young people, for example the Leeds Trinity North Yorkshire Youth
Games, Step into Sport, the 'Have a Go' Project and volunteer
support, linking with local community events such as Sport Relief
and Race for Life.
Lindsay works with several local sport specific development
groups such as athletics, badminton and girls' football, as well as
working with other agencies and partners such as North Yorkshire
Sport, the Harrogate School Sport Partnership and other National
Governing Bodies of Sport.
Lindsay also has responsibility for:
- Communications, including the website
- Sports Development E-Newsletter
- Club Development Pack
Helen Dennis
Assistant Sports Development Officer
Phone: 01423 556701
Helen has worked for Harrogate Borough Council since September
2005; prior to this she worked as a gym instructor, lifeguard and
coach at Leeds Metropolitan University, and for Leeds City
Council's Sports Development Unit as an athletics coach on the
Talent ID scheme for Education Leeds. She was also involved in the
delivery of the Healthy Lifestyle project 'Go Bananas' for
Harrogate Borough Council. She has a degree in Physical Education
at Leeds Metropolitan University.
As the Assistant Sports Development Officer, Helen works
across the district developing the comprehensive Club and Coach
Education Programme and Sports Club Directory, and works closely
with local clubs to support the clubmark accreditation process and
club development.
Helen also has responsibility for::
- The Nidderdale Junior Athletics Club
- The Annual Kwik Cricket Competition - including work with cricket young leaders and local clubs
Cricket and Rugby Development Groups