Essex FANS Scheme

ESSEX
Free
Access
National
Sports people

What is FANS?

Essex FANS scheme is a Sports Development initiative designed to provide support to the county's leading talented sports performers. The scheme provides nationally ranked sports people with free access to participating local authority and private leisure and sports facilities at designated times, for personal training and development.

Who is eligible?

Essex FANS scheme provides opportunities for sportsmen and women, including those with disabilities, who are:
Currently members of a national team or squad or listed in the top 10 nationally within
their sport and are residents, or belong to a club, within the ten participating Boroughs and Districts in the county of Essex for the majority of the year. (N.B. Other Districts and
Boroughs in Essex may have their own schemes please ring them for details).
Evidence or confirmation of a performer's involvement at a national level will be required from the appropriate governing body of sport.

Which Boroughs are covered?

Boroughs that participate in the scheme are: Basildon District Council, Braintree District Council, Chelmsford Borough Council, Colchester Borough Council, Epping Forest District Council, Harlow Council, Rochford District Council, Southend on Sea Borough Council, Tendring District Council and Uttlesford District Council. Details of the leisure and sports facilities which are included within these boroughs are listed in the document below.

How do I apply?

Individuals apply by completing the application form, which can be downloaded below and submitting evidence or confirmation of their performance level, which must be endorsed by the appropriate governing body of sport, along with 2 recent passport photographs of themselves. This should be sent to sportessex, c/o ExDRA, Aquila House, Waterloo Lane, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1BD.

What next?

Sportspeople accepted on the scheme will be provided with a photo ID membership card that must be shown at each facility on each occasion, to enable free access. This card will be valid for the entire year shown on the card. Each FANS member will be entitled to free training at facilities as agreed with facility staff, during designated times, when the facilities are open, and providing there is no disruption to other users and no additional cost is incurred by the facility e.g. floodlighting. If a coach is planning to accompany a FANS member under the age of 16, a letter of approval must be provided from the parents of the individual, or, the coach must provide proof of their attendance at a county Child Protection course.

How do I re-new my membership?

Membership to Essex FANS will be renewable on an annual basis, each December. Evidence of continued sports performance at a national level will be required for renewal, along with a completed application form and 2 new passport photographs. As reminders for renewal will be e-mailed to scheme members, it is imperative that a current e-mail address is always on file.

Use of facilities

FANS members will be required to meet with facility staff prior to use, to agree areas to be used and times of usage. FANS members must follow the rules and operating procedures of each facility at all times. FANS members will be allowed one free training partner if the sport so requires and/or personal coach if appropriate. However, all instructors/coaches will be required to provide evidence of insurance cover when they first visit the centre.
Participants and coaches must wear appropriate footwear and clothing.
If FANS members intend to use fitness gym facilities, they will need to undertake an
induction, which must be paid for.

What will be asked of members?

In return for the benefits that Essex FANS members receive from free access, it will be a
condition of membership that, within reason, members will make every effort to attend
promotional events as requested by any of the participating local authorities or facilities. Members of the scheme will be expected to maintain good relations with participating centres and act as an ambassador for the scheme.

Monitoring and evaluation

A few months after you have gained membership to the scheme, we will e-mail you an evaluation questionnaire of the scheme. In order to ensure the ongoing success of the scheme, it is vital that it is completed.

Data protection

This scheme is part of a countywide partnership between 10 Local Authorities in
Essex and sportessex. They be party to the complete information contained on the application form. Some of the information may be shared with other sports related organisations, this will be reported in an aggregated form and depersonalized.

Terms and conditions

The District or Borough authorities and sportessex reserves the right to change the terms and conditions of the scheme, as well as withdraw the membership of any athlete deemed to no longer fit the criteria of the scheme or who is no longer operating within the 'spirit' of the scheme or if any breach in the scheme occurs.

You can download a FANS application form (pdf document) here

For more information contact:

By Email:

anne.fursse@sportessex.org.uk

cholmes@tendringdc.gov.uk