SE1151 - Creating a Leadership Community

Description

Sport England is committed to 'creating a leadership community' with ‘a strong connection to tackling inequalities’. This programme aims to focus on how leadership development can support this ambition, by concentrating on diversity, equity and inclusion practices and evolving systems thinking. The consolidated offer will have four, interconnected, delivery elements: • Knowledge Hub & connecting networks • Coaching & Mentoring offer for individuals and/or teams • Place-based leadership programme aligned to place expansion • Impact, Evaluation & Learning partner The objectives for this work are: • champion leadership development and learning culture for all as a priority for tackling inequalities and influence beyond our investment • increase and retain the proportion of leaders from diverse backgrounds • leaders to feel better equipped to tackle inequalities in their work and the Sport and Physical Activity (SPA) system • leaders to work together (accessing network support opportunities) to embed inclusive SPA in society/their system. Lot 1: Knowledge Hub Support Act as a central point of contact, communication and coordination for the programme. Connecting to other non-Sport England support and existing leadership networks. Foster 'leadership community' identity. Develop and share tools and resources to support the 'universal' element of the programme. Previous work and user consultation highlighted visibility of offers, criteria transparency, access to resources and connections to on-going support, determine if people access and embed leadership development. Lot 2: Place Based Leadership Programme To align the place-based expansion programme, it will be required to deliver place-based leadership courses for new Sport England Place Partners. These courses will unite partners in a local place around a shared purpose with clear shared outcomes in relation to Sport and Physical Activity (SPA). This requirement has evolved from our National Leadership Essential course and through a test & learn pilot in Blackpool and the Wirral. And shall be further developed in 2024, via a 1-year intensive place-based leadership programme, to be delivered in collaboration with the Local Government Association (LGA) for those first phase of new places. Learning from this work will inform the place-based leadership offer, that is consolidated into “Leading the Movement” from 2025. Lot 3: Coaching and Mentoring To deliver a bespoke offer to support individuals, teams or groups. Following successful Leading for Renewal offer (2021-2023), with 5 coaching sessions for some System Partner CEOs, senior leaders, or emerging leaders from diverse backgrounds. We will iterate during the programme and be designed with Sport England colleagues, the co-design groups and users. Balance of supporting current senior leaders and Board members as they work to tackle inequalities across the Sport and Physical Activity (SPA) system, and also emerging leaders from diverse backgrounds. The development and evidence about best practice for timely coaching interventions, for example for new CEOs or Chairs. Lot 4: Impact, Evaluation and Learning Working across all elements, the partner will develop a theory of change, design standard data-capture methods, collate evidence and evaluate the impact of the programme. This will build from Sport England's own Theory of Change and KPIs, existing Place evaluations and the System Partner Measurement, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) which includes measures on 'better organisations' including decision making, diverse leadership and good governance. Learnings from the programme will be shared regularly with Sport England, providers, co-design group and partners.