Clubs, Coaches, Volunteers News – September 2026
Active Kent & Medway's 2026 Conference
Bookings are OPEN for our 2026 Conference taking place on Tuesday 13 October 2026, 9:30 to 15:30 at the Kent Event Centre, Detling.
Our keynote speaker is Andy Taylor, CEO, Active Partnerships National Organisation (APNO), the national charity that connects and supports a network of 42 Active Partnerships across England.
NEW for 2026! A panel of experts and advocates will share insights, lived experience and practical advice to help make sport and physical activity more inclusive for all. There will also be a choice of bite-sized briefings on key topics, as well as the opportunity to network with other delegates throughout the day. Please note, bookings close 25 September 2026.
Supporting Sport Welfare
Sharing Stories
This Summer, Rachel had the pleasure of visiting Wye Tennis Club and meeting Chairman Graham Sutherland, who is stepping down after 21 years. Graham shared two philosophies that have helped shape the club’s success: “Always say yes” and “Keep asking”. By prioritising belonging, inclusion and community connections, Wye Tennis Club has embedded welfare into everyday practice.
“Good welfare starts long before a safeguarding concern arises. It begins with creating an environment where everyone feels they belong.” Rachel Daly, Sport Welfare Officer.
Sport Welfare On Tour
Our Sport Welfare Officers are heading out across Kent and Medway to meet clubs and communities face to face. For one week, from 28 September – 4 October 2026, Jimmy and Rachel will be visiting local venues including leisure centres and sports facilities, offering informal drop-in sessions for anyone involved in sport and physical activity.
Whether you’re a club welfare officer, coach, volunteer, committee member, centre staff, facility partner, community group leader or participant, Jimmy and Rachel would love you to come and say hello.
FREE Supporter Kit Bags
Rachel and Jimmy have enjoyed delivering Sport Welfare Supporter Kit Bags to clubs this summer. Each bag includes practical resources to support visible welfare presence and day to day safeguarding needs, helping to create safer, more welcoming environments for everyone.
If you’re an affiliated sports club or organisation based in Kent or Medway, with an identified safeguarding lead or club welfare officer, you can apply for a FREE kit bag too. Supporter Kit Bags will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.
Training Opportunities
Mental Wellbeing Workshops
Across the county, volunteers, coaches, instructors and community leaders help thousands of people enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of being active. However, these dedicated individuals can also experience pressure from balancing their roles alongside work, family and other commitments.
It’s important that clubs and community organisations look after their workforce as well as their participants. Simple actions such as checking in with volunteers, sharing responsibilities and recognising contributions can help reduce stress and build resilience.
There are a number of free online and in-person training opportunities that support everyday mental health for yourself and for the people you support.
Follow this link to view the workshops
NEW Inclusive Customer Service Training
Activity Alliance has launched two free eLearning courses through its Learning Hub:
- Providing an Inclusive Service in Leisure Settings
- Providing an Inclusive Service for Community Activities.
Designed for staff and volunteers in customer-facing roles, the courses offer practical guidance to help create welcoming, accessible environments for disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.
Follow this link to access the training
Everyday Active Workshop
“I’m a football coach but I certainly learnt a great deal more that I could promote with my parents and adults alike.” Attendee
The Everyday Active Workshop is for anyone wanting to improve their knowledge and understanding of the benefits of physical activity, to feel confident about having conversations with others to help get more people, more active across Kent and Medway. Our next FREE workshop is taking place on Tuesday 10 November 2026, 14:00 – 15:00.
Funding Opportunities
Active Kent & Medway Small Grant
Small grants 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.
Workforce Development Bursary
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?
Our Workforce Development Bursary 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.
FANS Small Grant 2026
FANS (Free Access for National Sports People) members in full-time education can apply for a small grant to help them with the costs associated with training and competing at a national level.
The next round of funding will open on 1 October 2026 and close 31 October 2026. Before applying, please check funding conditions and eligibility.
Autumn-Winter Webinar Series
Looking ahead to autumn and winter, our Creative Curiosity in Practice webinar series continues with more opportunities to strengthen your Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) in practice.
Drawing on real-world insight and hands-on methods, Alexia Tam, our Insight, Evaluation and Learning Manager supports participants to apply MEL in ways that feel purposeful and proportionate.
The autumn and winter series is ideal for anyone wanting to revisit the fundamentals, build confidence, or expand an established MEL toolkit with creative approaches.
DBS Updates
Change to the definition of regulated activity with children
From 1 September 2026, the law about regulated activity with children in England and Wales is changing. The current rule about the supervision of paid staff and volunteers carrying out specific activities with children will be removed from the legal definition. This means some people will be in regulated activity with children from 1 September 2026 when they were not before, because they were sufficiently supervised by someone else.
Reduced DBS Fees
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) will be reducing the fees for its products and services from 5 October 2026. Volunteer checks remain free of charge but the Basic, Standard and Enhanced DBS checks are all a little cheaper along with the Update Service subscription.
Other News
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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