EPSB Launches New Junior Snooker Programme

The English Partnership for Snooker and Billiards (EPSB) is delighted to announce a new initiative to boost junior snooker and billiards across the country.

A collaboration between the EPSB, Sport England, Sport Structures and the 147 Club network will develop, fund and deliver a £15,000 project aimed at encouraging new players aged 11-16 to participate in holiday clubs during the next two summers.

This project will give young people the chance to engage in fun, group-focused snooker sessions during the summer holidays, hosted by our high-quality affiliated clubs and led by WPBSA World Snooker-qualified coaches, addressing a need across our clubs to encourage junior activity.

Working with Sport Structures, a sport management and training company, the scheme will also develop a selection of ‘Young Leaders’, who will learn skills such as marketing, safe sport delivery, and in creating an engaging club experience for all. They will become role models, encouraging other young people to take up our sport by joining their local club.

A key feature of the new initiative is to foster local alliances with schools and Active Partnerships, working together to engage young people in snooker and billiards.

This project will kick-start an interaction between young people and billiard sports, founding a lasting sporting habit.

Speaking on behalf of the EPSB, WPBSA Club and Facilities Manager Bob Hill said: “Listening to the views of clubs, support is needed to engage young people in our sport. This project will provide expertise and resources to initiate new junior snooker activities and to bolster existing junior clubs.

“A bigger ambition for this project is to highlight the positive contribution that snooker and billiards can make to the lives of young people, so it is very encouraging to have received partnership funding from Sport England and to be working with some influential stakeholders in grassroots sport.”

Natalie Davis, Sport Business Manager at Sport Structures, said: “We are thrilled to be supporting the EPSB to develop junior volunteers through this programme.

“A lot of progress has been made in this area in recent years, and we are excited to add further value through a volunteer development programme that will educate and inspire the future leaders of the sport”.

To find out more about the EPSB’s development initiatives visit www.epsb.co.uk