Voluntary Code Update and presentation

Joy Tottman, Sport and Recreation Alliance

What is the Code?• A tool to help Boards perform their role

• Provides ‘Seven Principles of Good Governance’ for the Sport and Recreation Sector

• Suggests practical considerations and thinking points for each principle

• A voluntary code of practice for sport and recreation organisations that is not linked to funding and not designed to be a one size fits all mandate

• A dynamic document that allows organisations to set the standards of what good governance looks like for them under each of the Principles provided

Created by the Sector, for the Sector

Why did we create it?• Deloitte’s Investing in Change Report identified a need for one single vision of

good governance for all sport and recreation organisations to aspire to

• The Dutton Inquiry recommended that sport and recreation organisations needed to take ownership of their governance in a positive way to prevent regulation and government intervention

• Prevent more red tape being imposed on sport and recreation organisations and allow them to govern their own future

• NCVO played a role in creating the Voluntary and Community Sector Code of Good Governance and recognised that sport and recreation organisations were unique and needed a sector specific code

To help our members

Created by the Sector, for the Sector

Sport and Recreation Alliance Governance Stakeholder Group

Partner Organisations

Sector-wide consultation

Endorsement by Minister for Sport and the Olympics

Comprising of nine NGBs (small voluntary led and large funded organisations) Identified a need for one single governance vision

Supported by Birkbeck University, British Olympic Association, British Paralympic Association, SkillsActive, Sport England and UK Sport

NGBs, CSPs and representative bodies fed in responses to a consultation and the Code was re-drafted based on the views of the sector

Welcomed commitment to good governance from the sector and urged organisations to embrace the Code

How was the Code created?

The Principles

The Principles

What are we asking members to do?

• The Sport and Recreation Alliance are asking members to sign up to the Code

• Not asking for you to tick or commit to achieving everything that is detailed in the Code

• We are asking members to sign-up to the Code in an aspirational way

• We are asking members to look at each of the principles of the Code and to make them work in a way that works for their organisation

• We are asking members to self-regulate how well they are doing in terms of practicing the principles of the Code

What does signing up to the Code mean?• Achieving Board approval of the Code

• Including the Code as an objective in the organisation’s strategic plan

• Selecting an individual to take responsibility for the Code

• Sending a letter to the Sport and Recreation Alliance to confirm commitment to working on achieving the principles of the code

There is no timeframe for implementation but signing up to the Code is a statement of intent to maintain or improve governance standards in your organisation.

Signing up to the Code is not saying you have done everything – it is more an aspirational sign-up that you will work towards achieving the Principles in a way that works for you.

What are the benefits to signing-up to the Code?

• Demonstrating to members, funders and partners that as an organisation you are taking governance seriously and are a well run organisation

• You will be able to access help and support in maintaining and improving your governance

• You will be working on the same basis as other like minded sport and recreation organisations and will benefit from the sharing of best practice

• Aid the recruitment of skilled, knowledgeable volunteers and staff

• You will be able to benchmark your own success in terms of governance

Ensure a sustainable, successful, and self-governing organisation

Organisations that have already signed-up

Army Sport Control Board

Discussions at Board meetings• Getting the balance right between representation and skills

• Whether an independent chair is appropriate

• The difficulty of having elected Board members and how to overcome this

• How to get a Board to be strategic rather than operational

• The voluntary nature of the organisation

• How to get turkeys to vote for Christmas

Support VideosFirst Principle

Seb Coe, LOCOGRichard Lewis, RFL

Seventh Principle

Baroness Sue Campbell, UK SportLisa Wainwright, Volleyball

Second Principle

Craig Hunter, BOAMary Tetley, BSAC

Third Principle

David HemerySteve Nelson, West of England Sport Trust

Fourth Principle

Dame Tanni Grey-ThomsponJane Nickerson, ASA

Fifth Principle

Timothy Dutton QCPeter King, British Cycling

Sixth Principle

Sir Stuart Etherington, NCVOAdrian Christy, Badminton

Logo and Certificate

Smart Sport Resource Bank

Thank You for listening