**Swindon Sports Forum – Chairs report 2023 – Draft 1** 

## **OPPORTUNITY OUT OF CRISES: THE RECENT CRISES** - Gerry Hannon 

## SBC 

- disinvestment in leisure centres and sports development 

- outsourcing/'asset transfer' of leisure centres in 2014/15 

- more difficult to influence, loss of facilities. 

- SBC support/servicing to Sport Forum has gone. 

- CIF removal and implications 

## National environment 

- Sport England policy and change of direction of resources from Sport – Health, 

- Covid pandemic 

- Cost of Living 

## **THE RECENT OPPORTUNITIES** - Ian Jankinson 

- Reminder of what SSF can do for your organisation 

   1. **Advocacy –** representing the interests of sport and sports club at policy level. 

   2. **Capacity development. –** helping to resource clubs through funding and training. 

   3. **Extending and stimulating participation in sport –** through project funding 

   4. **Communication with, and signposting sports clubs** to advice and support 

- Regrouping/strengthening the Sports Forum Committee. We need more volunteers 

- Already working on rebuilding the member database and understanding the key challenges of clubs 

- Working up a revised Business Plan for 2024 including addressing challenges that clubs are facing e.g. ; 

      - Recruitment – and engagement with schools was mentioned a few times. 

      - Lack of Marketing skills (PR, social media, website). 

      - Funding needed for things like equipment, Venue hire due to cost. 

      - Cost of Living seriously affecting membership 

      - Volunteers to take on club management roles. 

      - Governance advice. 

      - Lack of facilities – swimming pools, pickle ball courts, cheerleading venue . 

- New annual grants programme 

- Rethinking our financial model e.g. Postcode Lottery bid success to support Women’s cycling participation programme at Moredon Sporting Hub as an example change of direction for the SSF in the future. 



I￿0￿?1.1?
£20.OD) trJ Crwr¢4
£4,6M C
E1&27S89
£7W K) Gr**• *ilhdrwn
£3740 Bw* Inlw•
E141124
Bw4C
£iSL
£14 5J
£127.
tISl 47
£70 24
£1.30S
WASP
t20,737AO Tot•lln¢on*
E1QS24.IJ
£74.453 15
2424
È16.524 23
t21471.*J
U•,IM.I•
Au(hJ
13