Clubs, Coaches, Volunteers Newsletter July 2024
Club and Community Forum Roadshows
We’re excited to announce the dates of our 2024-25 Club and Community Forum Roadshows. Taking place at various locations across the county, the roadshows are free and open to all sports and community organisations.
The roadshows are an opportunity for local sports clubs, activity providers and community organisations to come together, network and find out about the support that’s available around a number of key topics including workforce and volunteering; tackling inequalities and increasing participation; funding. There will also be a chance to learn about the new Sport Welfare project and hear from guest speakers who will share their knowledge, experiences and learnings.
Follow this link to view roadshow dates and to book your place
Partners Pledge to Move Together
It’s been over a year since Active Kent & Medway launched Move Together, the four year county-wide strategy for sport and physical activity.
Since the launch, over 80 local and national partners have pledged their support to the strategy. We continue to welcome pledges from other organisations who have a role to play in helping more people to become more active across Kent and Medway. Please pledge your support via the link below. United together, we move together:
Active Kent & Medway Conference 2024
Active Kent & Medway’s annual conference will take place on Wednesday 16 October 2024 at Kent Event Centre, Detling. The event is free and open to representatives from across health, leisure, local council, voluntary, sport and activity sectors who share our vision of more people, more active, more often.
Continuing our support of the county’s strategy for sport and physical activity Move Together, the theme of this year’s conference is: promote equality, value diversity, support inclusion.
We are delighted to welcome Donna Fraser OBE as our keynote speaker. The event will also feature Q&A panels, workshops and opportunities to network. Conference bookings will open in September but we encourage you to save the date in your calendars now.
Training Opportunities
Buddle Webinar – Creating an Inclusive Environment
Taking place on Thursday 19 September, 12:00-13:00, this free to attend webinar will help you to understand the different barriers that people face, broaden your reach to attract a diverse range of people and explore how you can create a positive environment to retain them.
By the end of this session, you will be able to identify how your club or organisation can create a positive environment that enables a diverse range of people to be engaged and retained as participants and volunteers.
Leaders Week 14-17 October
Leaders Week is the most significant global gathering of senior decision makers in international sport taking place every October in London.
This year Women’s Sport Collective partnering with Leaders and Women in Football, are offering members 30 funded places to attend Leaders Week. These funded places will enhance access to valuable networking, learning and upskilling opportunities for women in sport who would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend Leaders Week. This initiative is now open for applications and closes on Friday 26 July 2024. The application is open to women and non-binary people working in the professional sports industry.
Funding Opportunities
Coach or Official Grant
Following a review of our grants programme, applications towards the cost of a coach or officials course have reopened.
The criteria and application process has been updated and aligned with our Active Kent & Medway small grant and now allows an organisation to apply for a project which includes the development of their workforce.
Active Kent & Medway Small Grant
Small grants are available of up to £500 for local clubs and organisations looking to encourage and increase participation in physical activity for those living in Kent or Medway.
Funding could be available to cover facilitator or coaching costs, venue hire, equipment, marketing and publicity for projects such as new programmes, festivals, events, launches or celebrations of activity, that re-engage with previous audiences and/or encourages those new to activity to continue to be active.
“A simple application and fast to be approved. It’s made such a difference to the lives of the people within the group.”
Sport Welfare Project
Our Sport Welfare Officers have been busy hosting their first online drop-in session and a UK Coaching Safeguarding & Protecting Children Workshop, with attendees from local hockey, ice hockey, table tennis, showjumping, cycling, and gymnastics clubs.
A bowls specific safeguarding training day is being planned for September and another drop-in session will run on Monday 16 September 7pm-8pm.
Jimmy and Stuart have been out and about meeting the county Local Authority Designated Officers (LADOs) and attending Spring In The Park at Cyclopark.
Free Access for National Sports People
Are you a top sports performer living in Kent? Perhaps you know someone in your club or organisation who is?
The Kent FANS (Free Access for National Sports People) scheme provides support to the county’s leading sports performers through free, off-peak access to a number of the county’s sports facilities. Join over 300 local sports performers of ALL ages, representing over 40 different sports and receive a number of benefits to help with training and competitions. If the sports performer is still in full time education, they can also apply for a small grant to help with costs associated with training and competing (grant applications open in September and February).
Visit the FANS Scheme to find out if you’re eligible for the scheme
Feedback from FANS Members:
Other News & Announcements
Contact Us
We’d love to hear from you
If there’s anything in this newsletter you’d like to discuss, then just get in touch and one of our team members will get back to you as soon as possible. Please email: activekent@kent.gov.uk
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