Saltburn & Marske in partnership with Active Sports  hosted a local Swimming Festival on 6 June 2002. A  number of children were invited to attend the 10 - 11.30am session, the morning was a great success with eight children being selected to attend a future course in August to bridge the gap between swimming lessons and joining Saltburn & Marske ASC swimming club. Denise is delighted to announce that she has now become an Official Active Sports Swimming Coach registered at Teesside University, which provides excellent benefits to the Club, including future funding for all courses.

The aims of Active Sports is to enable all young sportspeople to be the best they want to be regardless of race, gender or ability. It is a new national programme designed by Sport England to give eight to sixteen-year-olds the opportunity to enjoy their sport - whichever part of the country they live in, be it urban or rural.

Partnership at local level is the key to Active Sports. Local authorities, governing bodies, schools and equity organisations are working together to improve the way sport is provided for young people. Forty-five Sports Partnerships covering the whole of England have now been established between Sport England and local authorities. These Partnerships will work through local centres, coaches and clubs to enable young people to participate in sport more frequently, improve their skills and compete at various levels.

The Sport England Lottery Fund provides funding, which is accessed by the Partnerships through lottery applications. In making their applications, Active Sports Managers select a minimum of three sports to improve the provision of sport for all young people in their area. As they progress, Partnerships will expand to include other selected sports, and in the longer term will provide access to a wide range of popular sports.

Active Sports is one of three interelated Active programmes that aim to provide a comprehensive sports development system throughout England. Active Sports is the crucial link between Sport England's Active Schools and Active Communities programmes and also the World Class programmes.