Member Article

Work starts on £10 million London 2012 Olympics legacy project in Sheffield

Work has started on the first phase of a £10 million London 2012 legacy project to make Sheffield one of the most physically active cities in the UK.

Construction teams are on site at Concord Sports Centre, one of three city locations being developed as part of the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine (NCSEM).

The £700k government-funded scheme at Concord, which is operated by the Sheffield City Trust charity group, will see an unused changing block transformed into a centre that will promote physical activity as a treatment in the NHS.

The refurbished area will house seven clinical consulting rooms for NHS outpatients’ clinics, education and training facilities and tele-health suites as well as creating a connection to the existing sports centre and outdoor spaces.

As well as the Concord hub, two further NCSEM sites will be opened at Graves Tennis and Leisure Centre, and in north Sheffield in early 2016.

Steve Brailey, chief executive of the SCT, said: “Our organisation’s charitable purpose is driven around encouraging physical activity to reduce the risk of chronic disease, so the NCSEM project is a perfect addition to the already successful set-up we have developed at Concord.

“Location is really important and Concord was chosen because it’s at the heart of the community and has already has an award-winning GP referral project as well as close links with local GP surgeries and community groups.

“Our expertise lies in linking health and physical activity. The site will be integrated with our own health and fitness facilities allowing GPs to prescribe exercise in a sporting environment and supporting our successful centre to grow.”

To mark the start of building work, Dave Birds, who leads SIV’s successful GP referral programme, took part in a sod-cutting ceremony at Concord Sports Centre.

Since launching in 2005, it has grown, receiving referrals from more than 100 surgeries.

The NCESM is supported by a group of major partners including Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield Hallam University, The University of Sheffield and Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Sir Andrew Cash, chief executive of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: said: “The commencement of the build at Concord signifies a significant step for the National Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine in Sheffield and it’s extremely exciting to see the vision for this project coming together in bricks and mortar.

“Changing the culture to make it easier for everyone to be active every day is a long journey but what we are developing here at Concord and the other NCSEM sites is a significant milestone in that long-term project and shows that we are serious about transforming Sheffield into the most active city in the UK.

“Using exercise as part of a patient’s recovery and rehabilitation as well as using it to prevent ill health has been proven to have significant benefits and Sheffield will be looking to take advantage of this through the facilities at Concord.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .