Introduction to Sports Clubs hub

The Multi-Sports Club Hub facility (MSCH), will host eight different sports clubs. The aim of the facility will be to encourage active living and a healthy lifestyle throughout the borough. The (MSCH) will offer sports which are fun, rewarding and beneficial. This Multi-Purpose centre will be programmed to deliver a greater variety of different sports and increase the number of users within the facility.

The new Indoor Sports Centre adjacent to the existing Terrence McMillan Athletics Stadium at Newham Leisure Centre, will not only house an athletics training hall which includes a 10 lane 80m track, high jump, long jump and pole vault but will also include 3 courts for basketball/football, 6 badminton courts, 6 cricket nets, classroom/ coach education room, school fitness centre, outdoor mini soccer pitches and an outdoor stand.

Athletics has a long tradition in Newham and is a popular sport amongst men and women, with local club Newham & Essex Beagles excelling in both local and national competitions.

The dedicated indoor athletics centre will underpin the future development of the sport within the borough and provide a focus at local and regional level to ensure that athletics is no longer seen as a summer sport.

Furthermore, to achieve the greatest possible benefits the new centre will be programmed to offer a broad range of additional sports to the local community, including football, basketball, cricket, badminton, karate and fencing. The London Borough of Newham has identified club development as a priority for the Borough.

This is evident in the 'Going for Gold' strategy, which states the boroughs ambition to develop a strong club network comparable to the rest of London. The club development programme has been developed to ensure there is a sustainable base for residents to access sport and physical activity on a regular basis.

This is focused on not only developing new clubs, but also improving links between clubs, links between schools and clubs, improving access to and awareness of clubs and their activities, and improving the sustainability and quality of clubs in the Borough.

The clubs involved in the project are:

• Newham Swimming Club
• London APSA
• Canning Town Football Club
• Newham Swords
• Newham All-Star Sports Academy
• Newham Shoujin Karate Club
• Newham & Essex Beagles Athletics Club