Clubs, Coaches, Volunteers Newsletter March 2026
NEW Learning Series
Active Kent & Medway is excited to launch a free online learning series to share techniques and understanding of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) in practice. Led by Alexia Tam, who is known for her creative, participatory methods to gather insight, the series explores how listening, reflection and lived experience can sit at the heart of good MEL. Through practical examples from real projects, Alexia will show how tools such as conversations, creative activities and community‑led approaches can generate meaningful learning, without relying on complex systems or technical expertise.
This series is ideal for anyone new to MEL, or for those who want to explore more human, accessible ways of understanding what’s working, why it matters and how learning can shape what happens next.
Buddle Workshops
Buddle has launched a new 40-minute online programme, Exploring Legal Structures, designed to help clubs and physical activity organisations understand the options available when choosing or reviewing their legal setup.
The programme is supported by a series of upcoming workshops covering key topics, including Engaging Your Community (20 April), Raising Money (1 April), Leadership and Governance (13 April), and Developing an Inclusive Environment.
Each session offers practical guidance, useful tools, and real world examples to help strengthen day to day operations. Clubs, coaches, and volunteers are encouraged to book early, as spaces are limited.
Funding Opportunities
Workforce Development Fund
Thinking about becoming an activity leader or yoga instructor for your local community group? Perhaps an assistant coach to support your club’s weekly sessions?
Active Kent & Medway’s Workforce Development Fund can cover up to 50% of the costs (maximum £500) towards qualifications or awards that increase the quantity and quality of leaders, coaches, instructors and officials in Kent, and therefore assist the development of sport and physical activity in the county.
Follow this link to apply for the Workforce Development Fund
Movement Fund
Sport England offer up to £15,000 for physical activity projects in the community. The focus is on people who face barriers to activity and projects designed to help them join in.
They encourage not for profit organisations who play an important role in keeping their community physically active to get involved. Projects that provide opportunities for groups facing barriers to activity are of particular interest, as well as projects in communities identified as having the greatest need for activity programmes.
Sport Welfare
Club Welfare Officer Drop-In Session
Our next online drop-in session for Club Welfare Officers takes place on Monday 20 April 2026, 7pm – 8pm.
Join our next informal drop-in session with our Sport Welfare Officers Jimmy McCormack and Rachel Daly. This session will focus on supporting neurodiversity in sport, with guest speakers discussing their own lived experience within clubs. It’s an online session, very relaxed, so bring a brew and listen in, or contribute as you see fit.
Follow this link to register for the Drop-In Session
Neurodiversity in Sport: Swap Labels for Clues
Many sports clubs and coaches want to be more inclusive but aren’t always sure where to start when it comes to neurodiversity. In her article ‘Swap Labels for Clues, Tamzin Reid, a local sports coach with lived experience, explores how a light-touch awareness approach to neurodiversity can help create more welcoming, inclusive sport and physical activity environments for everyone involved.
If you work with neurodivergent participants and want practical ways to adapt, listen and support, Tamzin’s quick wins are a good place to start.
Follow this link to read the full article
Sport Welfare Top Tips
Club Welfare Officers, coaches and volunteers play a vital role in creating safe, welcoming environments for everyone involved in sport.
Our Sport Welfare Top Tips bring together practical guidance, trusted resources and ready-to-use templates to help clubs strengthen their safeguarding and welfare practice with confidence. Whether you’re new to the role or looking for a quick refresher, this is a useful place to start.
Other News
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