Subsector partnerships: How Sported engaged its members to improve their impact practice
Inspiring Impact has published a review looking at what lessons can be learned from its first subsector partnership with Sported.
To download the full Inspiring Impact review, please click here.
Projects in Wales that will strengthen third sector capabilities are the latest being awarded National Lottery money.
Sported Foundation, receive £300,228 to work with 120 grassroots groups [in Wales] who deliver sport to enhance the lives of disadvantaged young people. They will provide intensive mentor support to group leaders and volunteers, enabling them to improve elements of their organisational health including governance, financial management, fundraising and volunteer recruitment and retention.
They are one of 3 projects across Wales sharing in £588,776 as part of the first round of its Third Sector Skills funding programme.
The programme is aiming to pilot innovative approaches to bringing new skills and expertise to organisations in the third sector through mentoring and trustee recruitment.
Welcoming the grant, Richard Thomas, Wales Manager at Sported, said: “At Sported we are dedicated to supporting community groups which use the power of sport to transform the lives of disadvantaged young people.
“Thanks to the Big Lottery Fund we will be able to strengthen and build the sustainability of even more community groups across Wales and – most importantly – create more life-changing opportunities for young people in our most deprived communities.”
Highlighting the importance of the Third Sector Skills programme, Andrew Owen, Head of Funding for the Big Lottery Fund, said: “Programmes like Third Sector Skills are making a difference to the lives of so many people in communities across Wales.
“It means that new skills can be brought to organisations that will help them flourish and take advantage of opportunities that are available to them.”
The Third Sector Skills programme awards grants of between £10,000 and £500,000 to empower third sector organisations to become better equipped to plan for the future and overcome a difficult economic environment. For further information about the programme and how you can apply for funding visit https://bigblogwales.org.uk/2016/05/06/developing-third-sector-skills/
To read the full press release from the Big Lottery Fund, please click here.
An innovative new pilot project that aims to encourage greater participation and increase opportunities for women and girls to get involved in grassroots sport is being rolled out across Northern Ireland thanks to funding from the Department for Communities.
As part of the Department’s continuing investment in women’s sport, Sport NI has partnered with leading Sport for Social Change charity Sported and Women in Sport to launch a new joint pilot programme called ‘Engage-HER’.
Engage-HER will initially see six community sport organisations in Northern Ireland benefit from the combined expertise of Sported and Women in Sport; receiving tailored training and operational support to grow women and girls’ involvement in sport and physical activity.
The programme draws upon Sported’s experience of supporting grassroots groups using sport for social change and Women in Sport’s 30 years of insight-led expertise helping groups remove barriers to participation and improve their understanding of what women and girls want.
The package of benefits will also see each group receive one-to-one mentoring support from Sported to develop a ‘Women and Girls Engagement Plan’. This will help groups put the training and insight from Engage-HER into practice, and foster the development of exciting new sporting opportunities for women and girls across Northern Ireland.
John News, Acting Director of Participation at Sport NI, said: “Sport Northern Ireland is delighted to be working with Sported, Women in Sport, the Department for Communities and our other partners on the Engage-HER pilot programme. Sport NI is committed to encouraging more women and girls to enjoy, engage and excel in sport, and Engage-HER is about developing a more informed and responsive approach to delivering quality sporting experiences for females. We look forward to the roll-out of the pilot programme and wish the six participating organisations well in their work to help women and girls get active, fit and sporty.”
Brenda Kelly, Northern Ireland Manager at Sported, said: “Sport has an important role to play in developing the health and life-skills of young people and bringing communities together. However, across Northern Ireland far fewer girls benefit from sport than their male counterparts. Thanks to funding from the Department for Communities, and together with Sport NI and Women in Sport, we hope to support groups to break down this gender gap.”
Jennie Rivett, Senior Sport Partnerships Manager at Women in Sport, said: “This project funded by the Department for Communities has allowed us to bring our learnings to Northern Ireland for the first time, providing an opportunity to share research and explore how our insights can be applied at a local level. The programme is a really positive step forward and encourages clubs and community groups to think differently about how they engage women and girls.”
Sported is delighted to announce the appointment of former Unicef UK’s Head of Sport, Tom Burstow, in the newly created post of Deputy Chief Executive.
Working alongside Sported’s Chief Executive, Chris Grant, Tom’s portfolio of responsibilities will include managing strategic external relationships and leading on income generation.
As Head of Sport at Unicef UK, Tom led a team generating millions of pounds through high-profile sporting partnerships with events, clubs, brands and athletes to support UNICEF’s objective of using the power of sport to realise children’s rights.
In 2014, he oversaw Unicef’s ground-breaking ‘Put Children First’ fundraising appeal during the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and its Opening Ceremony, raising more than £5m.
Tom Burstow, newly appointed Deputy Chief Executive at Sported, said: “Sported is an organisation I’ve long admired for its amazing support of members using sport across the UK to deliver positive change for young people. I’m delighted therefore to be taking up this important role at an exciting time in the organisation’s development and with such a great team in place.”
Chris Grant, Chief Executive at Sported, said: “Tom joins Sported with unrivalled experience of building strategic partnerships and leveraging major sporting events to promote and raise funds for the global Sport for Social Change movement. As Sported continues it work here in the UK, his knowledge, expertise and ideas will be a major asset in helping us boost the growth, capacity and sustainability of our 3,000-plus members.”
We are pleased to announce the launch of brand new e-learning resources to help Sported members improve the way they collect and utilise impact data, as part of our ‘Fit for Impact’ programme in partnership with Inspiring Impact.
As a proud sub-sector partner of Inspiring Impact, Sported’s goal is to work towards a Sport for Development sector where high quality impact measurement is the norm.
Our ‘Fit for Impact’ programme has been designed to take our members through a journey to greater impact practice; from understanding the benefits of measuring impact, right through to sustaining good impact practice within their organisations.
The newly launched e-learning resources are the latest addition to Sported’s range of freely available impact measurement member services, which includes our impact measurement tool Sportworks, regional workshops and peer-to-peer learning.
The ‘Fit for Impact’ programme has seen Sported train 19 volunteers to become ‘Impact Champions’, who are currently supporting 40 member groups across the UK to embed and implement best practice, through a mix of one-to-one support and group workshops.
The learning from these existing projects and our work with Inspiring Impact have been handily distilled and captured in the new e-learning resources ‘Impact Practice Learner Journey’ to enable all of Sported’s members to benefit!
It’s packed full of easy-to-understand interactive content, downloadable resources, templates, videos and explanations to help groups develop their understanding of impact practice.
Sported members can access the online Impact Practice Learner Journey through the ‘Your Impact’ section on Your Sported Network.
Emma Heel, Head of Evidencing and Learning at Sported, said: “Sported’s members make an incredible positive impact on young people in their community – we’re here to help them show that. Being able to demonstrate and measure an organisation’s impact is not only become vital for securing funding, but is also important in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of delivery. In partnership with Inspiring Impact we’re determined to help our members, and the Sport for Development sector, lead the way in adopting high quality impact practice.”
Prince Harry spent yesterday, Tuesday 20 September, in Aberdeen to learn about some of the vital work being done by some of the city’s leading youth development projects.
The Prince visited Mackie Academy in Stonehaven to participate in the secondary school’s Diana Award Mentoring training day, before moving on to RGU’s Streetsport project and social enterprise and youth charity, Transition Extreme.
His Royal Highness was in the North East as part of a tour of community sport groups organised by the UK’s leading Sport for Social Change charity, Sported, as part of their support for the Prince’s work to further his understanding of how sport can be used as a platform for education, training, employment and personal development.
Campbell Roy, Scotland Manager for Sported said: “Prince Harry is a passionate advocate of the power of sport to transform young lives. His latest visits will help shine a spotlight on the brilliant – and life changing – work of Sport for Social Change organisations such as Streetsport and Transition Extreme, and underline their importance in breaking down barriers, tacking inequalities and improving the well-being of our nation.”
During his time with the award winning Streetsport initiative, Prince Harry received a briefing on the programme of weekly sports and creative activity sessions and how it helps to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour across Aberdeen. He then met Streetsport coaches and volunteers, and was greeted by more than 100 pupils from Kaimhill Primary School who were taking part in a range of sporting activities that the project offers.
Cameron Craddock, Co-founder of Streetsport and Senior Lecturer at RGU’s Gray’s School of Art, said: “Streetsport was initiated by Police Scotland and Robert Gordon University ten years ago as part of a joint community engagement project and we are delighted to highlight our work to Prince Harry on this first official visit to Aberdeen. His Royal Highness’ support is an invaluable vote of confidence as we seek to secure the long term future of Streetsport.
“We’d like to recognise the valuable support, insight and contribution made by students, the wider RGU community, the Denis Law Legacy Trust and Sported throughout our 10 years of operation. We look forward to continuing our work with Sported on ‘Sport for Change’, which aims to achieve inclusion and participation in sport and other creative activities for hard to reach young people.”
The afternoon saw the Prince visit the city’s world-class extreme sports facility and youth charity, Transition Extreme. After a tour of the facilities Prince Harry had the chance to talk with a few of the young people whose lives have been transformed by the charity’s initiatives.
Grahame Paterson, Transition Extreme’s Chief Executive said: “Transition Extreme is an award-winning youth charity on a mission to assist young people in making positive life transitions through extreme sports and creativity. Our whole approach, and many successes to date, has been built around our belief in investing in young people and helping them harness their energy to reach their full potential.
“Prince Harry shares our passion and belief that community sports groups play a vital role in improving the life chances of disadvantaged young people. We are delighted to have the opportunity to demonstrate the vital work we do in the North East.”
Transition Extreme and Streetsport are two of a significant number of Sported’s members across the UK who will receive Prince Harry in 2016 as part of his public support for Sport for Social Change organisations.
Collaboration was the name of the game yesterday [Mon 22nd August], when two Sported member groups were given the opportunity to bring their young people together for a special tennis coaching session supported by the Tennis Foundation, hosted by Manchester Tennis Centre.
Sported member, John Paul II Youth Club from the Ardoyne in Northern Ireland, whilst on their summer tour to England paid a special visit to fellow Sported member club, Youth on Solid Ground (YSG) in Manchester.
The visit was organised by Sported as part of its partnership with the Tennis Foundation’s Serves programme, which has seen the two groups – plus eight other Sported member groups across the UK – become the beneficiaries of brand-new, portable, pop-up tennis courts and modified kit (soft balls, appropriately sized rackets and nets).
The Serves programme aims to introduce the sport of tennis to new younger audiences, particularly in areas which have historically lacked tennis clubs and facilities. The programme’s accompanying Tennis Activator course trains community champions in basic tennis organisation and delivery skills to confidently run sessions in a fun and informal way.
Check out the following video to hear how both groups got along…
On Saturday 6th August 2016, Carnegie Smyth – Managing Director of Signia Wealth and Trustee of Sported – departed Belfast on his bike.
Ten days, ten sports, 1000km of hard riding, countless hills, numerous rain showers and over £35,000 raised in aid of Sported later, he finally finished his epic ’10:10:1000 Challenge’ in style, as he rode into the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London on Monday afternoon [15 August].
Money raised by Carnegie from the ‘10:10:1000 Challenge’ will help Sported continue its work supporting the growth and sustainability of over 3,000 community groups across the UK. All of which use the power of sport to broaden horizons, raise aspirations and develop the life skills of disadvantaged young people.
To see first-hand the impact of his fundraising efforts, during his 1000km ride Carnegie paid a special visit to ten Sported-supported projects across the UK. Whilst there he got the opportunity to meet the inspirational volunteers and staff of community sport and learn about their challenges operating on, often, shoe-string budgets.
The ten Sported member visits also gave Carnegie the opportunity to participate in a range of sporting activities with the young people from the various clubs, from boxing and horse carriage driving to sailing and basketball.
The tenth and final challenge saw Carnegie join FRE Flyers in East London for a game of hockey at their home at the Lee Valley Tennis and Hockey Centre in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Carnegie Smyth, Managing Director of Signia Wealth, said: “Visiting community groups across the UK, I have seen first-hand the power of sport to motivate and inspire young people. The volunteer and staff which work so hard to run these groups and give young people in their community unique opportunities to develop are truly inspirational, and it’s been a real privilege to share their company over the last ten days.
He concludes: “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank every Sported member that has hosted me, all the young people that I’ve met and allowed me to join their sessions and, finally to everyone that has sponsored me so far. Sported is a fantastic charity and seeing their work in action has been awe-inspiring.”
Olympic Gold medallist, Chris Boardman, said: “Congratulations on your epic journey. I’m very passionate about the power of sport to help young people and bring communities together, and I look forward to hearing about your adventures when I return from describing Team GB’s triumphs in Rio”.
Sir Keith Mills, founder of Sported and former Deputy Chairman of LOCOG, said: “Sported was born out of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, so it’s a fitting end for Carnegie to cross the finish line at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. He’s done tremendously well, not just cycling 1000km in ten days, but raising such a significant amount of money to support Sported’s work with community sport groups across the UK.”
To donate to Carnegie’s 10:10:1000 Challenge, please visit:
https://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/sported/carnegie10101000
To read Carnegie’s daily blogs from the 10:10:1000 Challenge, please visit:
http://sported.wpengine.com/our-blog/
This summer, whilst the eyes of the world are on Rio de Janerio as the finest athletes come together for 31st Olympiad, one man will be pushing himself to his own physical limits to improve the life chances of thousands of disadvantaged young people.
Carnegie Smyth will be taking the time out of his busy schedule as Managing Director of Signia Wealth to undertake the extreme ‘10:10:1000 Challenge’ with the aim of raising vital funds for the Sport for Development charity, Sported.
On Saturday 6th August 2016, Carnegie will be setting off from Belfast to cycle 1,000km to the Lee Valley Tennis and Hockey Centre in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in ten days, via Scotland and Wales. En-route he will pay a special visit to ten Sported member clubs to see first-hand how sport is being used to turnaround and transform young lives. Not one to shy away from a challenge, during his visits Carnegie will be putting his sporting prowess to the test as he joins young people in an array of sporting activities, including boxing, archery, sailing, hockey and basketball.
Money raised from the ‘10:10:1000 Challenge’ will support the work of Sported. Born out of the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the charity supports a network of over 3,000 community groups. Located in some of the most economically deprived communities of the UK, together these groups use the power of sport to broaden the horizons, raise the aspirations and develop the life skills of over 450,000 young people.
Carnegie Smyth, Managing Director of Signia Wealth and Trustee at Sported, said: “Make no mistake, it’s going to be tough, but I passionately believe sport is one of the most effective tools we have to motivate and inspire young people today. Sported supports some amazing community organisations across the UK, so I can’t wait to meet some of the inspirational volunteers and, of course, try my hand at some of the sports!”
Sir Keith Mills, founder of Sported and former Deputy Chairman of LOCOG, said: “Sported’s members pride themselves on the same values of the Olympics and Paralympics – friendship, respect, excellence, determination, inspiration, courage and equality. So it’s fitting that in the month when these qualities come to the fore, Carnegie takes on this extremely tough challenge for such a worthy cause.”
To donate to Carnegie’s 10:10:1000 Challenge, please visit:
https://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/sported/carnegie10101000
10:10:1000 Challenge Itinerary:
Day 1 [Sat 6th August]: Belfast to Glasgow (Sported members visiting: Gleann Amateur Boxing Club & Rathfern Company of Archers)
Day 2 [Sun 7th August]: Glasgow to Moffat (Sported member visiting: Reach for Sky Basketball)
Day 3 [Mon 8th August]: Moffat to Carlisle (Sported member visiting: Sports Driving Unlimited)
Day 4 [Tue 9th August]: Carlisle to Kendal
Day 5 [Wed 10th August]: Kendal to Chorley (Sported member visiting: Preston United Youth Development)
Day 6 [Thurs 11th August]: Chorley to Liverpool to Glyn Ceirog (Sported member visiting: Positive Futures North Liverpool)
Day 7 [Fri 12th August]: Glen Ceirog to Telford (Sported member visiting: Canolfan Ceirog Centre CYF & Telford Sailability)
Day 8 [Sat 13th August]: Telford to Worcester (no Sported member visit)
Day 9 [Sun 14th August]: Worcester to Oxford (Sported member visiting: Disability Karate Federation)
Day 10 [Mon 15th August]: Oxford to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (Sported member visiting: FRE Flyers)
The financial security of boxing clubs in some of England’s most economically deprived areas has been given a major boost with the roll-out of Box On, a Sport England funded programme developed in partnership between England Boxing and Sported.
‘The noble art’ of boxing is famous for its proud tradition of developing young people’s skills, discipline and attitudes, both in and outside of the ring. Box On was developed to ensure that young people who historically face barriers to sporting participation, including girls, disabled people and those from lower socio-economic areas, continue to benefit from the power of sport by ensuring their local boxing clubs remain open, accessible and financially sustainable.
Ron Tulley, Head of Development at England Boxing, said: “Box On is all about investing in boxing clubs’ long-term sustainability. It’s not about quick fixes or short-term programmes. Rather, helping club leaders develop the business skills, knowledge and practices they need to make the most of investment opportunities and safeguard the long-term future of their clubs.”
Sport England is funding Sported to manage and deliver Box On following its successful pilot in 2015.
Box On is a unique grant-support programme, focused on helping boxing clubs improve their capability to secure and effectively utilise grants and funding. Each of the nine boxing clubs on the pilot benefitted from a carefully tailored package of member services from Sported, including a two-day workshop on capacity building and club development, and three months of one-to-one professional support from a Sported volunteer mentor to develop a robust three-year business plan. On completion, each club became eligible to apply for a £7,500 grant from Sport England as part of its 2013-17 whole sport plan investments.
Following the pilot, Box On is now being rolled out to a further 60 Sported boxing club members across England.
Paul Steele, project lead on Box On at Sported, adds: “By leveraging Sported’s membership network, volunteers and sector knowledge, we are helping England Boxing extend its support to boxing clubs serving young people who may otherwise find it difficult to access sporting provision. These boxing clubs are vital assets for their communities and provide life-changing opportunities. Box On will lay the foundations for their continued growth and success.”
Phil Smith, Director of Sport, Sport England, says: “Following last year’s successful pilot, we believe Box On will help us to reach people living in some of England’s most deprived areas, and enable them to become more active.
Boxing is currently having a resurgence, and boxing clubs have an important place at the heart of communities, often where our funding is most needed. This money will support these clubs to become more self-sufficient, ensuring they can continue to serve their local community for years to come.”
CASE STUDY: One Nation Community Centre, Sheffield
One Nation Community Centre was founded by Wajid Nazir and Israr Asif to provide young people with positive diversionary activities, in response to escalating criminal activity in the local area. It was soon having a dramatic impact, with a 53% reduction in local anti-social behaviour being credited to the opening of the club.
Despite its success and a growing number of participants, key operational challenges were limiting the club’s growth – its facilities were in need of urgent repair, it lacked adequate changing rooms and revenue streams were limited.
To overcome these challenges, One Nation joined the Box On pilot. As part of the package of support offered by Sported, the club was awarded a volunteer business mentor to develop a robust business plan and assist with their grant application.
One Nation subsequently went onto to successfully secure a £7,500 grant from Sport England and match-funding from a variety of other funders and stakeholders, enabling the club to completely refurbished its facilities and make it wheelchair accessible.
Wajid Nazir, Chair at One Nation Community Organisation, said: “When we joined Box On we had a basic business plan, but with the help of Sported and England Boxing we were able to develop a much more long-term approach. Our Sported volunteer mentor was brilliant – she prioritised what we needed to do and opened our eyes to the fact we had to build new partnerships to generate new revenue. Undoubtedly, the support and funding from Box On has been the catalyst for our recent growth.”
