The latest figures show that only four in ten adults play sport once a week and as a result, the government is changing the way it invests in community sport to get more of the population engaged in exercise.

Instead of just targeting people aged 14 and over, it will widen the brief to focus on all ages from five-years-old through to pensioners.

Investment will also be made in sports projects and activities which provide people with a greater quality of life – from improved physical and mental health to stronger communities. There is also a strategy to enrich young people’s educational opportunities.

This new approach will be crucial in getting more of the nation active.

A report from The British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity revealed that regular physical activity could prevent people developing a range of health issues, such as cancer, Type II diabetes and heart disease. It also found sports participation effective in reducing depression and anxiety.

Grants and funding are now available to schools, sports clubs, community groups and local authorities to enable the building of the new sports pitches and facilities needed to get people more active.

Finding a trusted partner
In order to maximise your budget and deliver high quality facilities, you need to engage with a specialist whose team of experts has a proven track record in designing and building sports projects to a diverse range of exacting client specifications.

O’Brien Sports delivers natural sports pitches, such as those used for rugby, football and cricket. It also supplies synthetic and Multi Use Games Area pitches, with surfaces suitable for just about every sport and user – from professional sports teams to schools and communities.

Recent projects include a synthetic grass hockey pitch for Burton Hockey Club and a 3G synthetic grass football pitch – constructed to meet FIFA requirements – for Worthing Football Club.

George Dorwell, chair, Worthing Football Club, said: “O’Brien Sports approached the project in a very professional manner. The construction team were meticulous in their work, and the end result is one of the highest standard playing surfaces in the league and the region. Feedback from fans, players and the local community has been very positive.”

Full range of services O’Brien Sports offers a full range of sports pitch services, including:
• Full design and build construction projects
• Synthetic and multi-use games area (MUGA) pitches
• Pitch renovations
• Natural sports pitches
• Total solutions for sports pitches
• Infrastructure, including access roads and car parks