As part of its ‘Good to Great Mission’ CSP Boards have invested in an innovative new Board Development Programme over the last 12 months, supported by Sport England.
“There are approximately 450 board members across the 45 CSPs who make a huge commitment to the Network and collectively they have a wealth of experience and skills”. Commented Richard Saunders Chair of the CSP Network Board. “We recognise the significant role that they play, particularly the Chairs, in setting the strategic direction for the CSP, ensuring that the right culture is embedded and providing performance oversight. High governance standards will be even more important as part of the new Government and Sport England Strategies, and we want to make sure that CSPs are looking ahead and are fit for the future”.
The programme has been facilitated by Campbell Tickell, experts in governance in the not-for-profit sector, and has included networking events, training workshops and webinar sessions, with all CSPs benefiting.
Reaction to the programme has been very positive and one CSP Board Chair commented,
“Thank you so much for the excellent event, with invaluable topics around Board recruitment and management and the future direction of CSPs. It was great to meet other chairs and I look forward to using the new portal on the website to continue some of the useful sharing of best practice. I feel inspired for the future”.
All sessions have been recorded providing an excellent resource for future CSP board members.
The national team are currently planning the programme for 2016-17. For further information, please contact aledbury@cspnetwork.org.
Notes
About the Board Development Programme
Topics have included:
- Board Recruitment
- Essentials of Effective Governance
- Being Strategic
- The Board Member Role
- Role of the Chair
Sessions have also incorporated peer learning, self-assessment and guest speakers.
Planning for the 2016-17 is currently underway.
About Good to Great
The ‘Board Development Programme’ is one element of the ‘Good to Great Menu of Improvement Support’ which includes a number of improvement packages, led by the CSP Network Core Team, to support CSPs to become and retain a high performing status. Packages include:
- A performance benchmarking service
- Annual partner satisfaction, staff satisfaction and financial performance surveys including analysis and improvement action
- A Leadership Programme for Senior Managers
- A Board Support programme
- A suite of mentoring packages aimed at individuals and teams
- An organisational self-assessment tool and an individual Training Needs Analysis Tool
- An Annual Convention and training programme
- An internal online Hub for sharing information including various themed groups
- Bespoke support packages based on need
About the CSP Network
The CSP Network is a nationwide network of 45 County Sports Partnerships employing circa 670 staff with a total turnover of £57 million. Our mission is ‘To improve lives by growing grassroots sport and physical activity’. By 2020, our headline goals are:
- To get 500,000 more adults participating regularly in sport.
- To reduce the number of adults that are inactive by 250,000.
- To get 1 million young people more active.
We do this via:
- National Reach - Local Impact: Getting the nation active by delivering or commissioning high impact customer-led solutions.
- Clubs, Coaches & Volunteers: Developing a high quality, diverse workforce and supporting them to deliver inspiring activities that are accessible to all.
- Local Leadership: Co-ordinating the effective delivery of local sport and physical activity by brokering relationships and influencing stakeholders.
- Insight and Influence: Understanding the needs of the local area to influence and guide decisions to maximise investment into sport and physical activity.
- Awareness and Advocacy: Raising the profile of sport and physical activity through innovative local and national promotional campaigns.
Our Performance:
- Based on feedback from over 2,000 partners, our Net Promoter Score was 38 in 2015, improving from from 28 in 2012.
- 91% of partners were either very satisfied or satisfied with the ‘added value’ that CSPs provided in 2015.
- CSPs levered in £40 million of funding to support partners in 2014-15.
- 519,000 young people have completed a Sportivate project since 2011.
- 8,000 coaches have been supported to progress from level 1 to level 2 since 2009.