The new Regional Officer - NINA BRIDGE - comments on her work programme. I have been working hard in my first few months to establish contacts and meet with the relevant people to support the set up of Community Badminton Networks (CBN) in Bucks. We held the initial Aylesbury CBN meeting in November at Stoke Mandeville Stadium. Some great links were established instantly and there was a very positive vibe from all partners involved.

The CBN is working with WheelPower and Phoenix Badminton Club, on one of its first projects, to develop an inclusive badminton session. Phoenix Badminton Club has just submitted an application to Wheel Appeal to fund four new sports wheelchairs and WheelPower has agreed to fund 20 weeks of badminton coaching for the inclusive session. In addition, Bucks Sport is supporting Phoenix Badminton Club to work towards becoming an inclusive club.

The CBN is also working with Aylesbury College to develop badminton sessions for their students to increase participation in the game. This has been funded by Sports Unlimited, which aims to target semi sporty young people. The project will also be supported by Phoenix Badminton Club to ensure that after the 10 weeks of coaching, the sessions continue and the players also get invited along to club nights. Our next Aylesbury CBN meeting was in February and I hope we will make as much progress at that meeting as we did at the last.

Wycombe CBN meeting was held at Wycombe Badminton Centre at the start of February and a similar project with the neighbouring college has already been planned. The possibility of setting up CBN’s in Milton Keynes and South Bucks will be explored in due course.

If you would like any more information about Community Badminton Networks, please contact me on ninabridge@badmintonengland.co.uk.

AYLESBURY CBN

The first meeting was held on 24 Nov 2009, since then great progress has been made and the following programmes have been organised:

- Return to Badminton (Reactivate Bucks) - starts Tue 9 Mar for 10 weeks. Stoke Mandeville Stadium, 6-7pm. Cost £3 per session. Link to Events page for more details.

- Aylesbury College Badminton - starts Mon 22 Feb 3.30-4.30pm Free

- Coming soon .......

- Wheelchair badminton at Stoke Mandeville Stadium

- World Record attempt at Stoke Mandeville Stadium

- Return to badminton in June and October

- School badminton festivals and after schools clubs

- Badminton Bonanza in partnership with Phoenix B.C.

- Give It A Go sessions with Phoenix B.C. (Reactivate Bucks)

For further info contact Nina Bridge at the email address above.

WYCOMBE CBN

The first meetinf was held on 2 Feb 2010 at Wycombe Badminton Centre. This was a very positive meeting and we are on track for some great projects. The following programmes have been organised:

- Wycombe College Badminton. Starts Wed 3 Feb at Wycombe Badminton Centre, 1.30-2.30pm. Free

- Coach Education Workshop (return to coaching). Sat 20 Mar at WBC. 1.00-3.00pm. Free

- Coming soon .......

- Return to badminton in June and October

- Workplace badminton

- School badminton festivals and after school clubs

For further info contact Nina Bridge at the email address above