Club Leaders launches: free training and support available

10,000 community sports clubs now have the chance to develop better business skills thanks to Sport England's innovative new programme, Club Leaders.

Providing free training and support to those doing the day-to-day running of community sport, Club Leaders will help create a robust, economically sustainable and enterprising club network. The project, which recognises that leading a sports club can be a challenge, particularly in the current economic climate, aims to help people develop their business skills so that they are better able to assist their clubs realise their full potential.

Sport England Chief Executive, Jennie Price, said "We asked the people who run clubs what they needed most, and their advice has guided every aspect of the Club Leaders offer: simple, flexible training and advice, delivered locally, and completely free. They are the unsung heroes of grassroots sport, and I am delighted we are able to offer them support as part of the legacy of London 2012."

People from sports clubs will be able to develop skills in a way that suit them, including a dynamic Club Leaders online website with e-learning modules, discussion forums, news, events and more:
•    Face to face seminars led by subject matter experts across the country
•    One-to-one mentoring to focus on those clubs most in need to get them on the right track and;
•    A "Learning Bus" will also tour the country, initially following the route of the Olympic Torch Relay, giving clubs in rural and inner city areas the chance to find out more, including the opportunity to speak to Club Leader trainers about getting involved in seminars, take advantage of the free computer to check out the website, take one of the e-learning modules, or applying for the mentoring scheme.

Delivered by Pwc, training will initially be provided in business and financial planning, marketing, governance and facilitates management. Further modules in these areas and relating to other areas of identified need are currently being developed and are scheduled for launch over the course of 2012.

Minister for Sport and the Olympics, Hugh Robertson, said: "Volunteers are vital for community sport to flourish so it is important that we nurture their talent and enthusiasm. This training and support offered by Sport England will help people develop the broad range of skills they need to run a successful and dynamic sports club."

This programme will enable clubs to focus on their existing and future participants, and further embedding themselves and sport in the communities that they are part of.

Olympic silver medalist, Roger Black MBE, said "Community sports clubs are the backbone of grassroots sport and are what help nurture our sports stars of tomorrow.  I know first-hand how important the people who volunteer to help run these community clubs are, having seen it not only in my own athletics career but every Sunday when I take my children to play at our local sports club. 
 
"By supporting those who keep our clubs going and by providing them with the skills to do that job more effectively, we will build a strong future for sport in this country beyond this year's Games." 

Club Leaders is part of Sport England's  Places People Play legacy programme, the £135 million National Lottery-funded programme that is bringing the inspiration and magic of a home Olympic and Paralympic Games into communities all over the country.

To find out more, access the learning resources and find out where the bus will be stopping, visit www.sportenglandclubleaders.com.