Opening School Facilities
Supporting schools to open their sports facilities outside of the school day, for both school and community users.
Greater Manchester has an ambition to create more safe spaces for children and young people in the communities they live in. School settings provide an opportunity to achieve this, as they have a perceived safety and familiarity for young people and the local community.
The National Picture
The Department for Education has funded schools to open their facilities through a consortium of partners, including Active Partnerships, StreetGames, ukactive, and the Youth Sport Trust.
These facilities will be available for children, young people and the community. The goal of this program is to help people be more active in communities that need it the most.
What's happening in Greater Manchester?
Opening School Facilities – Greater Manchester Network
We are building on the national Opening School Facilities (OSF) agenda and feedback from schools and local partners by hosting a termly OSF Network event.
This network brings together colleagues from across Greater Manchester to support community use of school facilities. This is after school, evenings, weekends, and during holidays.
Each session offers a chance to:
- Build relationships: Connect with others working in this space
- Share learning: Showcase good practice and ideas
- Spot opportunities: Explore new insights and collaborations
- Continue the legacy: Build on what is already working
Who can join?
This network is open to all schools, trusts, and partners who want to maximise school facilities for community benefit.
There are still many school sites not yet open across Greater Manchester. We need your help to share learning and opportunities so more young people, families, and communities can benefit from being active.
For more information, email [email protected]
See our upcoming event dates.
Opening School Facilities in Oldham
Further details please contact
- Lauren Whaley
Active Young People Lead - [email protected]
- 07850 605367
Why open your school's facilities?
Across the country, 39% of sports facilities are closed during the summer holidays. We help schools open their facilities after school and during holidays. This can help children and young people to stay active in their local areas.
Opening your facilities in the evenings and on weekends helps local sports clubs and your school in many ways:
- Raising your school’s profile and strengthening its community presence
- Supporting your school in its journey to becoming or remaining outstanding
- Generating a valuable new income stream
- Promoting physical and mental wellbeing benefits
- Increasing activity levels among your pupils and the wider community
- Building connections with groups that need safe spaces for people to be active
- Accessing peer support through a network in Greater Manchester
- Playing a role in building healthier, more active communities while improving your school
How can schools open their facilities?
If your school wants support, future investment, or local connections to help open your facilities, please email us at: [email protected]
Booking Systems
Many booking systems can help schools open their facilities. In Greater Manchester, we want to help organisations open their data.
This makes it easier for communities to find spaces to rent and for people to find activities that suit them.
Booking systems are important for sharing data. If you are thinking about using a booking system, please choose one that allows open data. If you need help finding a booking system, please email us, or view OpenActive’s list of enabled systems here.
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