SUPPORTING LOCAL ORGANISATIONS
Sport England funded programme offering mentoring and capacity-building to experienced practitioners across London.
Sport England funded programme offering mentoring and capacity-building to experienced practitioners across London.
‘Supporting Local Organisations’ is a 12-month project delivered by Active Communities Network that aims to increase engagement in sports and physical activity for Sport England priority communities by supporting the leaders of grassroots groups and strengthen the local sports ecosystem.
Often working hyper-locally and informally, these groups are well placed to reach those communities often disengaged or excluded from sport/physical exercise. Working with young people, as well as parents, they have the potential to change attitudes and behaviours in relation to sport and exercise. This is helped by the fact that most group leaders are rooted within the communities they serve.
Mentoring and capacity-building are at the heart of the project. Under the guidance of ACN, experienced practitioners are providing mentoring and related support to the leaders of new or emerging physical activity groups in particular neighbourhoods across London.
The project explores the potential of grassroots groups in reaching priority communities, how targeted support to emerging sports leaders can help expand or sustain their work, and the value of working through a trusted intermediary embedded within the local sports ecosystem.