Sport and activity at the heart of the community: Making the case

Date: 19 March 2013 9.45am - 1.00pm

Location: Roe Valley Leisure Centre, Limavady Get Directions

645180NI190313

Introduction

This CIMSPA national event will explore many of the issues surrounding the current debate regarding sport, physical activity and leisure provision in Northern Ireland and the new realities the sector will have to confront if it is to meet the challenges of an ever-changing economic environment.

There’s something in the programme for ALL sport and physical activity professionals:

Programme A

This will hear from speakers with experience of leading organisations at senior management level – outlining the arguments for a more business-like approach to service provision, whilst still ensuring community and wellbeing objectives remain at the heart of the sector’s organisational ethos. With content focused on the senior and strategic management issues facing the sector, this session is intended as most relevant to:

Directors
Heads of sport/leisure services
Sport and leisure centre managers
Leisure services managers

Programme B

This offers front-line and supervisory staff an opportunity to consider both some great examples of good practice at the operational level, and also how the sector is interacting with traditionally “hard to reach” groups via the hugely successful Sport Northern Ireland Active Communities programme. This session will be ideal for front-line staff and will give these staff a valuable personal professional development and networking experience. Aimed at:

Sports development officers
Duty officers
Recreation assistants
Lifeguards

With the Review of Public Administration (RPA) process a reality in Northern Ireland, there has never been a better time to explore these important themes – keeping sport, leisure and physical activity at the heart of the our communities.

EventInfoandBookingForm

Programme A

For directors, heads of sport/leisure services, facility managers and leisure services managers

Go here for Programme B for frontline and supervisory staff

Time	Event
9.45am	Registration, networking and welcome refreshments
10.15am	Welcome from the Northern Ireland Management Board Chair and Board members
10.30am	Leisure Trusts: an alternative to outsourcing? Phil Collins, Ex-CEO, Hertsmere Trust Phil Collins led one of the early transfers of the management of leisure services from an English local authority to a charitable trust, before spending 10 years as the new organisation's chief executive, and has extensive experience of how authorities have used the trust model to maintain community service delivery in challenging times. His presentation will outline the trust concept and consider how it offers a possible "future path" for sport and leisure in Northern Ireland, both for actual service delivery and also for helping to track social return on investment through the adoption of measuring and monitoring frameworks. There'll be a strong focus on answering any and all audience questions related to trusts, so come prepared!
11.10am	The leadership deficit: bridging the gap to maximise results John McMullan, CEO, Bryson Charitable Group John McMullan is Chief Executive of Bryson Charitable Group, a leading Northern Ireland social enterprise, ranked as 3rd in the UK based on turnover by Royal Bank of Scotland and currently the UK’s Private Business Social Enterprise of the Year. His presentation will address the importance of strategic leadership in affecting change and will describe the journey Bryson has travelled – moving from a traditional charity based on grant aid and donations to a vibrant social enterprise which has "scaled up" and competes effectively to win public service contracts across the UK and in the Republic of Ireland. The session will include an overview of Bryson, the organisation; its competitive advantage and its commitment to excellence and cost control. John will be pleased to take any questions and explore the development of social enterprise in Northern Ireland and across the UK.
11.50am	Break
12.00pm	Health and well-being in our communities: facing up to the challenge, and making a difference Maura O'Neill, Head of Health Improvement, Western Health and Social Services Trust Maura O’Neill is Head of Service for health improvement and community development across the West of Northern Ireland. Her presentation will outline the complexities in the delivery and engagement of users at a local level and consider how we can together offer a possible mechanism for implementing both a behaviour and cultural change for physical activity in Northern Ireland. In addition she will discuss actual service delivery; lessons learned and how we can demonstrate impact. A strong focus will be on the challenges and Maura will welcome discussion on how we can work collaboratively to truly engage users in our services in improving health and wellbeing and keeping people well for longer. Maura's role includes leading strategic planning, policy and programme development and managing health improvement activities at a local level. Maura along with her team are involved in extensive partnership working in translating health improvement policy into practice and in ensuring that real impact is happening at grass root level.
12.20pm	CIMSPA update and membership survey feedback Sean Holt, CEO, CIMSPA This session will be presented by Sean Holt and will be an opportunity for members to hear the feedback on the first CIMSPA membership survey. It will also be an opportunity for members to discuss the performance of and challenges facing the Institute and to learn about the latest developments that will help accelerate its evolution.
12.50pm	Close and summary
1.00pm	Lunch and networking opportunity

Programme B

(For sports development officers, duty officers, recreation assistants and lifeguards)

Time	Event
09.45am	Registration, networking and welcome refreshments
10.15am	Welcome from the Northern Ireland Management Chair and Board members
10.30am	Improving safety and risk assessments via a team approach – a practical example Glen Rankin, Duty Manager, Roe Valley LC As leader of the centre's risk assessment team, Glen's presentation will cover creating successful "living" risk assessment procedures and how effective training can ensure your staff take shared ownership of achieving the organisation's risk assessment goals. Includes question and answer session
10.55am	'Active Communities': the success story so far Diarmaid McAuley, Development Officer, Community Sport at Sport NI With the Sport Northern Ireland Lottery Funded "Active Communities" initiative now in its 3rd year, Diarmaid's session will celebrate how, through a network of 110 coaches, this award-winning programme has worked hard to increase participation in sport and physical activity among underrepresented groups including women and girls, older people and people with a disability. With 134,000 coaching hours delivered in 40 different sports and activities, 170,000 people in Northern Ireland have already been touched by Active Communities. Diarmaid is responsible for the management, monitoring and evaluation of Active Communities and his session will include a question and answer session.
11.20am	Break
11.30am	Utilising sport to combat anti-social behaviour in Northern Ireland – a case study Billy Wiley, Sport Development Manager, North Belfast Play Forum Billy has been closely involved in the decade-long Midnight Streets Soccer Programme which runs 5-a-side leagues between 9 and 12pm on weekend evenings across 10 sites across Northern Ireland – engaging youths in positive activities and reducing anti-social behaviour. With backing from the whole community – from the elderly through to the police – Midnight Streets is a unique case study on engaging this traditionally "difficult to reach" group. Includes question and answer session
11.55am	A lifeguard's view: what needs to be done to make the job more inspiring? John McKillion, Fitness Instructor, Cookstown Leisure Centre Based on his time in a number of jobs within the sector, John will highlight how committing to a personal development pathway has been a key positive experience for him, helping his career greatly. John believes that getting staff such as lifeguards interested in their own professional development is hugely important and will have motivational spinoffs for your team in every role they do. Includes question and answer session
12.20pm	CIMSPA update and membership survey feedback Sean Holt, CEO, CIMSPA This session will be presented by Sean Holt and will be an opportunity for members to hear the feedback on the first CIMSPA membership survey. It will also be an opportunity for members to discuss the performance of and challenges facing the Institute and to learn about the latest developments that will help accelerate its evolution.
12.50pm	Close and summary
1.00pm	Lunch and networking opportunity