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27 Mar 2023 | 10:10

The Sport for Development Coalition has appointed its Working Groups for the next 12 months – but there’s still a great opportunity to influence and have your say in the strategic direction and ambitions of the UK-wide network. 

The Coalition is a growing movement of almost 400 charities, organisations and networks using sport and physical activity intentionally to address key health and societal inequalities. It is governed by a series of Working Groups, comprising representatives from member organisations of the Coalition. 

Over the last month, the Working Groups have been re-recruited for the period April 2023 to March 2024, in alignment with the next phase of the #OpenGoal framework. Four Working Groups have been limited to no more than 10 individuals each to ensure they remain manageable and impactful, with two co-chairs leading each group. They will meet four times over the 12 months - read the schedule of activity.

COLLECTIVES

Following the recruitment, the Coalition is now inviting further colleagues across the sector to sign up to one of four ‘Collectives’. These will be less time-intensive but members will be granted access to meeting notes and shared information from the Working Groups. 

As with the Working Groups, there will be four Collectives across the following themes: 

  • Policy Collective 
  • Impact Collective  
  • Public Affairs and Advocacy Collective  
  • People Collective  

Collectives are being created to support the Working Groups. Members are welcome to choose a Collective based on either their field of expertise or interest. The ways in which a Collective works with their relevant Working Group will vary as appropriate and effective to the goal(s) of each Collective. 

get involved

Members of the Collective may be called upon en masse to support their Working Group, or on an individual/organisational level where their expertise or interest is pertinent to the work. 

They will be invited to attend the annual Collective Action meeting, and are also welcome to apply to join the Working Groups when applications re-open each February. 

Amy Caterson is the Coalition’s Head of Impact and Engagement. She joined the Coalition from Sport Wales in December, and has led the process.

MOMENTUM

She said: “We are delighted to have completed initial recruitment for the next phase of the Coalition’s Collective Action. Thank you to colleagues who have agreed to lead the Working Groups, and to those who have been appointed to the groups. 

“We had some outstanding candidates across all of the groups, and it’s been a tough process to create the smaller, more focused groups which the Coalition now needs to ensure it continues to build and maintain momentum and collective impact. 

“Now those groups are formed, we will be inviting remaining Coalition members to join one of the ‘Collectives’ which are being led by the Working Groups. This will enable more people working in sport for development to support the momentum and impetus of the Coalition.” 

To apply to join one of the Collectives, complete the online form.