Calling all sports clubs…….
As part of its support programme for voluntary sports clubs in Hertfordshire, the Herts Sports Partnership has organised a series of seminars and practical workshops, to be held at the University of Hertfordshire Sports Village, Hatfield.
The programme kicks off with two seminars on Sunday 28th October 2007 and is FREE to all representatives of the county’s 2000+ voluntary sports clubs.
Facilitated by Gareth Edwards of Company Solutions, the afternoon session, starting at 2pm – “Managing your Volunteers” – will cover areas such as recruitment, reward, recognition, induction, training and communication, and is aimed at voluntary sports clubs and other organisations that depend on volunteers for their own operations.
The evening session, commencing at 6pm – “Practical Fundraising” – will target those clubs looking to generate increased funding, and will signpost funding from grant aid bodies, charitable trusts, and emerging opportunities for fundraising through the internet.
The session will further outline the funding available through the Herts Sports Partnership towards the development of club – school links, and projects aimed at increasing participation in sport and physical activity for those in the 16-24 age group.
This session will also feature a presentation by Susannah Butt, Corporate External Funding Officer for Dacorum Borough Council, who has developed specialist knowledge on sources of grant aid available to such clubs.
In announcing the seminars, the chairman of the Herts Sports Partnership Grahame Bowles said:
“Voluntary sports clubs are the lifeblood of sport in our communities, and without them, sport in its current form quite simply could not exist. Those running our clubs, give up their time selflessly for the benefit of others and this effort is now given against a backdrop of burgeoning legislation, increased regulation, heightened expectation on the part of the funders, and a generally more litigious society.
So that many volunteers continue to give freely of their time to keep our sports programmes flourishing is a great tribute to each and every one of them. As a County Sports Partnership, we are determined to recognise and support this effort, and our forthcoming series of seminars, organised in response to the expressed needs of those clubs, will, I hope, go some way to demonstrating that support.
Increasingly, sport is gaining due recognition as a very powerful vehicle for positive social change and as a cost effective contributor to educational attainment, health improvement, social inclusion, community cohesion and crime reduction.
Over a quarter of all voluntary activity is sports-related, and voluntary sports clubs generate massive social capital and make a huge contribution to society. We will continue to lobby to ensure that our clubs get all the support that they need and deserve.”
For more information or to book your place please contact Graham Keen on 01707 281006 or G.A.Keen@herts.ac.uk
Note
The Herts Sport Partnership is a non-profit making organisation. It is made up of a number of organisations, (sports clubs, coaches, volunteers, governing bodies, local authorities, etc) and people with local interests whose common purpose is the advancement of sport and physical activity at all levels and for all people in the county of Hertfordshire.
The vision of Herts Sports Partnership is to develop a sporting community where we will be “Working together to co-ordinate and promote a quality sporting infrastructure allowing everyone to get involved, stay involved and reach their full potential in their chosen sport or physical activity”.
Website: www.sportinherts.org.uk
