These have been the most extraordinary few weeks for the nation, as the covid-19 pandemic has turned our world upside down. Clearly, the priority for the government should be the health of its people. The realisation that covid-19 had (and still has) the potential to kill hundreds of thousands of Brits forced the government into…
Thanks for everyone who made it to the SAPCA Conference at the wonderful St George’s Park National Football Centre. I think I speak for all when I say that the venue delivered again, providing a fantastic backdrop for the conference and setting the tone for a high-quality event which hopefully delivered something for everybody. Speaking…
It’s February, which means it’s SAPCA Conference time – and I’’m really looking forward to another exciting event at the impressive St George’s Park National Football Centre. We have an exciting line-up of speakers this year, led by motivational expert Brad Burton. The conference will also include a session on the Association’s strategy refresh, which…
In my very first blog of the year, in January 2019, I predicted that the 12 months ahead would see change and growth within SAPCA. And so it proved to be. During the year, we welcomed new members and strengthened our relationships with a number of external stakeholders – including Sport England, the national governing…
The public sector plays a huge role in funding and providing the facilities needed to keep a nation active and healthy. From school facilities, swimming pools and race tracks to tennis courts, sports centres and playing fields, the value of publicly-owned (and operated) facilities is immeasurable. The public purse has, however, come under unprecedented pressure…
Sport England is in the midst of a significant transformation process. Since launching its new strategy in 2016 under previous CEO Jennie Price, the organisation has radically reconfigured the way it funds projects. Much more emphasis is now being placed on getting people physically active by any means possible, rather than simply providing facilities and…
Earlier this month the UK celebrated Mental Health Awareness Week, which saw the topic receiving a lot of media attention. It was great to see sport featured heavily in the coverage, as there remains uneasiness in discussing mental health within the industry – both at elite and grassroots level. For me, one of the most…
Following another successful and inspiring SAPCA Conference last month, I want to offer my thanks to everyone who helped organise the event – including our generous sponsors Halliday Lighting and Replay Maintenance. It was great to see Sport England and so many NGBs represented too, a sign that there is strong support for our work…
Sport England recently reached the midpoint of its five-year Towards An Active Nation strategy. Launched in May 2016, the strategy maps out the organisation’s direction of travel until 2021. Towards An Active Nation was launched in response to the government’s Sporting Future strategy and signalled a radical change in focus for the grassroots funding body.…
It is customary, at the beginning of each year, to fix your gaze forward and assess what the next 12 months might hold. For SAPCA, 2019 promises to be a year of change and continued development and growth. One of the most visible changes will be the one facing the composition of the SAPCA board.…