EVENTS

New tool to help sports organisations

The organisation sported. has funded the development of a new impact measurement tool to make it easier for sports organisations to demonstrate the value of their work. A special demonstration of the tool is being held at an event for national governing bodies on 26 January at the sported. office in London. Email Neil Watson at Substance now to book your place.

Networking event: Trustee Exchange

Civil Society is running a Trustee Exchange event on 22 February to help trustees gain a fresh insight into how boards can operate more effectively and efficiently. The day will provide presentations, workshops, interactive sessions and networking opportunities with other board members so that trustees can share ideas and develop best practice.

Sports law: the Law Society annual conference

The Law Society’s annual Sports Law conference chaired by Howard Stupp from the International Olympic Committee is taking place on 15 March. Bringing together experts from the sporting world, the event discusses the major developments in the field - including the implications of the FAPL v. Murphy case for broadcast rights, the prevention of match fixing, the challenges and opportunities of social media, image rights and more. Save £100 when you book before 1 February.

CharityComms: upcoming events

CharityComms has launched a new programme of seminars, workshops and conferences to provide support and knowledge in the public and charity sector, covering issues from media licensing and email marketing to social media and building your brand. The course starts off with an Editorial Skills Workshop on 26 January, where participants can explore best practice and pitch story ideas to an experienced journalist.

GUIDANCE

Recruiting volunteers from the wider community

Following on from 2011 European Year of Volunteering research, free guidance is now available on how to attract and recruit volunteers into the UK’s sports clubs from the wider community. Highlights include a video, a list of challenges faced by community sport and case studies to demonstrate where volunteering from outside sports clubs has already been successful. You can download the guidance from the runningsports website.

How to implement a Local Compact

Compact Voice has launched the toolkit Local Compacts: A User Guide, which provides an in-depth overview of what a Local Compact is and covers everything from action planning, monitoring and evaluating a Local Compact, to running an effective Local Compact event and communicating it to partners. You can download the toolkit from the Compact Voice website.

FUNDING

Time to Change grants

Between April 2012 and March 2015, the organisation Time to Change will be distributing £2.7million of grants to approximately 75 mental health projects across England. If you are an organisation looking to run a project that actively and innovatively challenges the stigma and discrimination of mental illness, visit the Time to Change website to find out how you can apply for funding, or email Time to Change to register your interest.

New charity funding guide

As a result of the concern expressed by voluntary and community sector organisations over funding issues, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has launched Sustainable Funding: A Guide for Trustees, which provides information about developing a ‘mixed economy’ of funding for charities - incorporating grants, contracts and donations and also income from trading goods and services into a coherent strategy. To find out more, download the guide from the NCVO’s website.
 
GOVERNANCE

The Smart Sport resource bank

The Sport and Recreation Alliance has created a Smart Sport resource bank on its website, where CEOs, board members and senior management teams can find helpful examples of policies and templates, covering issues from board recruitment and structure to strategy and communications. If you can’t find what you are looking for, you can a request an example policy by filling in the form and submitting it to the Smart Sport resource bank.

Coming soon: Code workshops

The Sport and Recreation Alliance has now signed up 28 organisations to the Voluntary Code of Good Governance - otherwise known as the Code - a list of which can be found on the website. During 2012, the Alliance will be running workshops focused on implementing the Code in your organisation. Organisations which have signed up will attend, and organisations who are thinking about signing up are also welcome.

The workshops dates are:
Thursday 24 May 2012
Thursday 20 September 2012
Friday 23 November 2012

More details will be available soon but save the dates now. Contact Joy Tottman to find out more information about the Code.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Coach, you’re the best!

Perkins Slade, one of the UK's largest independent insurance brokers for UK and international sport and recreation organisations, is running a competition called ‘Coach, you’re the best!’ More than 3,300 people have voted so far, with 52 coaches nominated to win the £1000 voucher prize for sports equipment. Nominate a coach who you think deserves to be recognised, and pass this on to anybody in your organisation who will vote to raise the profile of coaches in your sport.

Contribute to the Young and Active magazine

Young + Active magazine is due to be launched in 2012 following a successful pilot scheme in Berkshire. The publication aims to promote and encourage young children to participate in sport and leisure activities. If you would like to promote your sport or club in this publication contact the editor, Harvey Grout.

Last chance to nominate in the Hollis Sponsorship Awards

The Sport and Recreation Alliance is supporting the ‘Grass Roots Sponsorship’ category of the Hollis Sponsorship Awards, which champion the excellent work of sponsors in the sport and recreation sector. Nominating an organisation in this category provides an opportunity to demonstrate how effective a grass roots sport or recreation campaign has been in introducing an activity, and hence the sponsor, to new audiences. The early bird nomination deadline is 16 December with a final deadline of 23 January 2012.

Email the Hollis Sponsorship Awards or call 020 8891 1067 for more information.

The Charity Law Review

The Government is carrying out a review of the 2006 Charities Act, considering issues such as fundraising regulation, reducing bureaucracy, increasing transparency and looking into the Charity Commission and its role. Law firm Bates Wells and Braithwaite (BWP) are running several seminars in February to help you to feed your thoughts in to the review. Contact BWP to find out more and to register.