Community Sports Teams

Few churches have enough sports-minded people to use sport to engage with their community. Yet sport offers such a great way to reach out beyond the walls of the church.

The answer is for churches to work together to create a Community Sports Team to serve them all. Though there is nothing to stop an individual church setting up their own team.

The idea is rather like that of Street Pastors, which takes special people from each church in an area to make up a team. That is how a Community Sports Team works – building the sporty and outreach minded people from different churches into a focused team to stage events and activities on behalf of them all.
How does a Community Sports Team work?

The role of the Community Sports Team is to help each church use sport to develop friendships and to build relationships with those around them.

It does so by –

• Sharing the load so it is not just one or two who carry all the work
• Drawing in a range of skills – from sports specialists to general helpers

It can also open a door to Christian service for some who thought they had nothing to offer. As one person said, ‘I never thought I could serve effectively in my church until I came across sports ministry. Now I can blend my passion for God and love of sport to reach others’.

What kind of activities could be done?
Almost all of the sport ministry ideas put forward in the context of More Than Gold can be developed by a Community Sports Team including –

• Clinics and camps
• Sports quiz
• Holiday clubs
• Sports tournaments
• Sports in school
• Sports academy
• The Games - for schools

What help is available?

The Community Sports Team model has been developed by World Sport Ministries and is already working in several areas of the UK. Hover over the title for direct link.
They can provide a detailed manual on how to start and run a Community Sports Team together with details of existing programmes and training. To request it you can also email info@morethangold.org.uk

Gardening for the Games

Garden for the Games ideas:
• Plant golden flowers to make your street shine for the Olympic Torch Relay
• Grow a bee-friendly wild flower meadow like the one in the Olympic Park
• Grow your greens for your Super Saturday in August
• Plant your team colours

Coming soon... planting guides, save the date cards, hints and tips from experts and fellow Local Leaders.

Sign up as a Local Leader now and we’ll send you updates with promotional material, exclusive merchandise and gardening design ideas. Hover over title for link.

See what some London 2012 Local Leaders are already planning...

Makaela and Aga, Local Leaders at the Edible Bus Stop, Lambeth.
'We are planning to Garden for the Games in our space next to the bus stop on Landor Road, SW9 to grow vegetables in all the colours of the Olympic Rings, from the common green and red vegetables to heirloom varieties of blue bell potato, black radish and golden kale. 'Our neighbours, helpers and friends will plant in April and then the seasonal produce will then be served at a street party next summer. It will be a healthy vegetable centric feast fit for record breaking athletes as well as hungry gardeners. We are also planning London 2012-style races, such as a carrot relay or an onion and spoon race.'

Paul Clarke, Local Leader at Pop up Farm, Burnley
'I’m planning on organising The Orchard Challenge to Garden for the Games with the schools in Burnley. We will see how many apple trees can be planted during 2012 to create long lasting orchards for the children to enjoy for many, many years to come.'

Wendy Davis, Local Leader at the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies
‘At the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies, we are really excited about the London 2012 Games. We will be showing how proud we are of this country by planting in the Olympic colours at home and at our Devonshire Square offices. I am also designing a feature to hang from the windows to show how delighted I am to be part of the excitement of this fantastic event. I will be encouraging all members of NAFAS to plant out their gardens and make designs that inspire the whole country to be a part of the Games, no matter where they live'.