Date: Wednesday 21 February 2018
Time: 1pm-3pm
Venue: Gateley Plc, 1 Paternoster Sq., London EC4M 7DX
PRESENT:
In the Chair – Robert Louden (Camping and Caravanning Club)
ATTENDEES:
Paul Williamson (British Association of Shooting and Conservation), Suze Endean (Motor Sports Association), Guin Batten (British Canoeing), Helen Bowker (British Triathlon), Dave Crisp (National Council for Metal Detecting), Richard Derrick (Young Explorers Trust), Abigail Elrick (Long Distance Walkers Association), Mike Gunston (British Balloon and Airship Club), Phil Hornsey (British Rowing), Jeanette Hopkins (Royal Yachting Association), Andrew Lockerbie (British Association of Snowsport Instructors)
ABSENT WITH APOLOGIES:
Alison McCann (Fields in Trust), Kevin East (Canoe Camping Club), Ian Davis (Motor Sports Association), John Garside (British Mountaineering Council)
IN ATTENDANCE:
Chantel Scherer (Director of Marketing Communications and Member Engagement), Rob Arnott (Communications and Engagement Manager), Marianna Sikorowska (Governance Officer), Eleanor Newton (Office Administrator), Tom Morgan (Membership Development Officer), Ben Jessup (Policy Advisor)
Claire Arnott (Independent Consultant)
Richard Norris (Open Data Institute)
Liz Beverly (Ordinance Survey)
AGENDA
Robert Louden (RL) gave thanks to the room for their attendance and asked that introductions were given.
Members were offered an opportunity to share issues and discuss best practice.
RL spoke about the government looking at regulations to reduce the weight of vehicles in the interest of being greener and cleaner for the environment. The new regulation is looking at reducing vehicle weights to one metric tonne averaged across a manufacturers fleet. RL explained that the possible issues with reducing weights for the sport and recreation sector could be significant when taking into account towing measurements.
Jeannette Hopkins (JH) asked if any consideration had been given to categorising vehicles into weight brackets. RL explained that the average fleet weight will always have to be one metric tonne.
Richard Derrick (RD) raised his concerned over mini buses and vehicles that can provide means of group travel.
RL brought an end to the discussion by asking the room to talk to manufacturers when possible to enquire about what their approach might be on the regulation.
Andrew Lockerbie (AL) from the British Association of Snowsport Instructors (BASI) provided a description of BASI as an organisation and followed up with a presentation put together by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and BASI on Brexit and its impact on sports instructors.
JH asked the organisations in the room if they have coaches in their sport that spend between 90 and 180 days in the EU if they do to get in touch and provide evidence and statistics on numbers. The RYA have already spoken to HMRC but would like to build the number of organisations lobbying on this issue.
RD expressed worries about the impact Brexit will have on outdoor centers around Europe.
JH – Is able to provide those are affected with a follow up email that provides a list of questions helping to quantify the issue.
RD talked about the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority and gave a brief description of how the AALA came into existence in April 1996. Initially sponsored through the Department for Education it is currently sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is currently designated as the AALA. Adventure activities licensing ensures that activity providers follow good safety management practices. RD explained that towards the end of 2016 a public consultation was done by HSE and wanted to make members aware that there are three options that can may occur from the consultation, one being the removal of AALA regulations.
Abigail Elrick (AE) expressed her feeling of initial relief when the AALA regulations first came out and worries about it duties being given back to the voluntary sector.
RD expressed that Northern Ireland are currently on a voluntary scheme and they have a very low uptake from organisations.
JH provided an explanation of the RYA only having recognised centres and that is where their training activities take place.
Guin Batten (GB) spoke on British Canoeing and evidenced their work with the home nations looking to align a view that encourages venues to speak up for themselves.
ACTION – To get involved email Dave (dave@basi.org.uk) or Jeanette Hopkins of the RYA (Jeanette.Hopkins@rya.org.uk)
ACTION – Members to review AALA consultation before the end date of 9 March
Presentation and paper on AALA provided at the end of the minutes
Richard Norris (RN) from the ODI was in attendance to discuss the Open Active initiative, the value of the open data and how it can help drive participation in sport and recreation.
JH asked whether all opportunities are to be pay and display and whether any similar member organisations have a website that uses open data at the moment. RN explained mostly free opportunities are advertised and gave the example of London Sport currently using open data to promote their activities.
Liz Beverly (LB) from the Ordnance Survey then gave a presentation on how they have used open data to encourage more people to get active.
Phil Hornsey (PH) suggested that working with third party providers as opposed to NGBs may be preferable as they are fewer in number yet have access to the majority of NGBs. RL encouraged members to discuss open data with their technology providers and the ODI would be happy to work them.
Eleanor Newton (EN) asked if the ODI had approached County Sports Partnerships (CSP) as well as targeting NGBs. RL explained that CSPs are closer to service providers using data that’s been published publicly already and that they are currently working with the CSP Network.
ACTION – Members who would like to find out more are invited to contact RN richard.norris@theodi.org
Presentation provided at the end of the minutes
Rob Arnott (RA) provided an overview of the membership review and thanked members for their contributions.
RA stated that the three key areas identified as being very important by members include, being part of a collective voice, being kept up to date with sector news and having access to our expertise – such as governance, policy and crisis comms support and advice.
The Alliance will be working towards providing more tailored services to members around these three main areas moving forward.
Tom Morgan (TM) gave a presentation outlining some of the key features of the Alliance Hub. He explained that further guidance on how to use the Hub is available on the Alliance website (https://www.sportandrecreation.org.uk/pages/alliance-hub)
ACTION - Members are invited to contact TM with any questions or issues they may have with accessing the Hub and its features – tmorgan@sportandrecration.org.uk
Ben Jessup (BJ) spoke about the 3rd anniversary of the Mental Health Charter (MHC) established by the Alliance, Mind and the Professional Players Federation to ensure the sector is doing its upmost to tackle of mental health issues.
Currently the MHC has over 300 signatories and BJ is working with current signatories to capture the impact of their work. BJ encouraged the room to share any successes they have had themselves and called for any attendees who aren’t signatories to take a look at the MHC section of the Alliance website.
https://www.sportandrecreation.org.uk/policy/the-mental-health-charter
BJ then spoke about the work the Alliance and Mind are currently doing around athletes and their mental well being to produce some guidance that is bespoke to the sector using the Farmer/Stephenson work on how being physically active is beneficial.
ACTION - Members are encouraged to send any questions about joining the Mental Health Charter to policy@sportandrecreation.org.uk
ACTION – Members to provide evidence of how they have used to the Charter in celebration of the 3rd anniversary. Please send to policy@sportandrecreation.org.uk
ACTION – Members are able to sign up to the Charter via the Alliance website (https://www.sportandrecreation.org.uk/policy/the-mental-health-charter/sign-up-to-the-charter)
Independent consultant Claire Arnott (CA) provided some practical advice on funding and explained the various sources and types of funds available, giving practical pointers on how to develop a strategic fundraising plan and what to include in bids.
RA mentioned that Sporting Assets, a member of the Alliance, have just launched Sporting Capital the first impact investment fund focused on community sport. Members are encouraged to look at the work the project looks to achieve on Alliance website.
25 September is the date of the next divisional meeting
BASI and RYA Brexit presentation
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This Black History Month, the Sport and Recreation Alliance sought to celebrate the significant contributions Black individuals have made and continue to make to grassroots sport and recreation by engaging with leaders throughout the sports sector.
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A new and exciting campaign spearheaded by Angela Rippon CBE is being launched called Let’s Dance! with one objective – to get more people dancing.
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Joining the Sport and Recreation Alliance is pretty simple, but worthwhile!
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