The two words information and communication are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different things, information is giving out, communication is getting through.
Sidney J Harris - Journalist and Author (1917-1986)
Almost every organised sport and recreational activity in the UK has its own governing or representative body. These bodies exist to organise, regulate and encourage more people into their sport or activity. Other groups that can help by supporting or linking in with clubs are Local Authority Sports Development Teams, School Sports Partnerships and the County Sports Partnership Core Team.
Building partnerships to develop your sport and club
Development Groups take on various shapes and sizes depending on whether there are regional or local National Governing Body representatives and the number of sports clubs in the county.
Membership of Development Groups usually consists of:
- Club representatives
- National Governing Body (NGB) represenative (Local Officer)
- Local Authority Sport Development Officers
- School Sports Partnership Representatives (Partnership Development Managers & School Sports Coordinators)
Other Development Officers attend when necessary (e.g. NGB Funding and Facilities Officer, Oxfordshire Sports Partnership Core Team)
Benefits include:
- A clear method to engage with clubs and local Sport Development personnel
- A common way to work across the partnership but with flexibility according to local need
- Coordinated approach to delivery
- The ability to implement development at a local level (e.g. coach education courses)
- Clubs are able to influence the programme of delivery to meet their needs
- Local clubs are able to feed back into the delivery system for sport
