The commissioning challenge

When it comes to devising a strategy and solutions to problems, it helps to know what the problems REALLY are. Here's where commissioning comes in useful. Hannah explores this matter in more detail for her latest blog.

I recently went to an insightful event on commissioning for culture and sport. The sport and recreation sector has a unique role to play in improving people’s lives and generating cost savings. Some within the sector are already embracing the potential of commissioning but it’s new territory for others, fortunately help is out there!

Following on from Leigh’s blogs (part one and part two) about the economic environment and given that we’re in an era of localism, commissioning is increasingly becoming something that the sport and recreation sector should consider engaging with. But what is it?

Commissioning is not procurement, it’s ‘the process of finding out about public needs, then designing and putting in place services that address those needs’ (NCVO). Commissioning can involve innovative local partnerships, pooled budgets and shared outcomes frameworks.

Public health is an example of an area that offers synergy and opportunity to the sport and recreation sector. Our guide to the public health landscape in England, produced in partnership with ukactive, set out health structures following the Health and Social Care Act.

The language may be different, with acronyms such as HWBs (Health and Wellbeing Boards), CCGs (Clinical Commissioning Groups) and JSNAs (Joint Strategic Needs Assessment), but by talking and sharing with colleagues in public health, doors can open to new funding arrangements and the delivery of exciting new programmes, as well as those with an established evidence-base. Ultimately, this should result in more people of all ages being healthy and active.

To help you get involved, the Local Government Association, Sport England, Arts Council England and the Chief Culture and Leisure Officers Association have produced Engaging in Commissioning. This resource pack outlines how, by engaging in commissioning, the sport and culture sector can meet the wider objectives of councils and their communities.

Sport England has a case study of strategic commissioning and the sport sector which sets out how sport and leisure services in three local authorities have developed their strategic commissioning knowledge and capacity. Although about local authorities, this provides insight into the process and may spark ideas of how you can get involved.

There is also a guide for councils and their partners on how to create a local outcomes framework for culture and sport. This will help you measure and evidence the difference your service makes and its contribution to local priorities. It will also help you make the case for continued investment of public money.

So please take a look and think about what opportunities there are for you. If you’re already involved with commissioning please let me know as I’d like hear about it!?

Read more fron Hannah.

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