A new workforce for a more active and healthy Britain

A one-day conference, 17th February 2022,
Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry

Presentations from

The changing times in community sport…how should our skills agencies, training providers,

sports bodies, FE/HE and others, adapt?

There seem to be many discussions within community sport and physical activity as to how we should develop and deliver workforce training across the sector in the ‘new normal’ world, particularly when it comes to dealing with the many volunteers within the sector.

The questions are also whether too much of our accredited training is too complex and rigid in its structure and if that makes it difficult to adapt content and format to a changing world?

At the same time, how do we ensure that our training and workforce development is recognised and trusted across and beyond the sector?

It has been suggested that we should an element of accredited training covering topics such as life-saving and child protection where specific skills and understanding are key. These standards can include academic quality, ethics, integrity, learning experience, and student experience, among others.

But around areas such as leadership, customer service and communication there could be scope for a more open approach as one can not always put these aspects into boxes. Obviously, the need for delivering quality training in this field is equally as important but could perhaps be measured more around user and participant response.

We are also experiencing interest from some sports bodies to swift attention in sports volunteer workforce development from a rigid, technical focus to a stronger focus on developing a more welcoming and holistic approach to engage and activate inactive people.

Increasing diversity and inclusivity amongst the sporting workforce

Despite continued efforts, and various initiatives, community sport and physical activity in most places has not managed to significantly increase participation among people with different attributes and backgrounds (i.e. race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion) in a meaningful way.

Also, we continue to see those groups lag behind their white counterparts in terms of being physically active and living long and healthy lives.

So, we must develop training programmes that bring in people from more diverse backgrounds if we are to reach many inactive people. 

This conference will bringing everybody together

We will bring everybody together involved with developing and delivering training and workforce development across community sport and physical activity to discuss, learn, exchange, network and improve and innovate – this conference will do exactly that.

The conference will bring together representatives from the Sports councils in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland accredited and non-accredited training providers, accreditation agencies, national governing bodies of sports, universities, colleges, employers.

Introduction
Chris Johnson, Chair, North of England Activities and Training

Adapting and changing our approach to make it easier for people from all areas of society to enter and move through our sector
Spencer Moore. Director of Strategy at CIMSPA
Steve Mitchell,

Engagement, Environment & Relationship: Understanding People
Justyn Price, Head of Coach Development & Insight, The FA

Creating an agile, flexible, and resilient workforce
Eleanor Ower, People Development Lead, Sport Wales

Developing the workforce who can engage ethnic minorities in the outdoors
Mohammed Dhalech, Outdoor diversity campaigner

Empower unique individuals and professionalise the industry workforce.
Stacey Doherty, Director, Transcend

How to identify and support the workforce required to get people active
Ian Carey, Director, Joanne Dodd, Partnership Officer, Active Black Country

How to develop the workforce required to manage and lead a flagship programme ‘Active Row’ reaching over 3,000 young people
Matt Rostron, CEO, Emily Coe, Director of Programmes, London Youth Rowing

To book your place

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