Sports Leaders Celebrate Success at Crawley Convention

More than 100 Sports Leaders from schools, colleges and community groups across the South East joined sport and leisure professionals at Freedom Leisure’s K2 on Thursday 25 November to celebrate their contribution to grassroots sport. The Mayor of Crawley, Councillor Lee Burke and Chief Executive of Active Sussex, Sadie Mason, who was recently appointed to the Sport England Board, attended the convention, where they met with local Sports Leaders and helped celebrate the success of sports leadership in the South East. A Dragon’s Den style challenge took place throughout the day, where Sports Leaders gathered into small teams to design a sporting event to be held in their local community, linked to local priorities and tackling local issues. Final ideas were pitched to a panel of judges, including Bob Harber and Tom Maddison of The Co-Operative Membership, Clare Fallis from Sports Coach UK, Chloe Frame and Kira Donna, two members of the Young Person’s Organising Committee for the South East Leaders for Life Convention, and Emma Forward from Skills Active. Sports Leaders UK and The Co-Operative Membership will now work in partnership to submit an application to The Co-Operative Community Fund to make the winning team’s idea a reality in their community. As well as celebrating their successes, Sports Leaders had the opportunity to take part in workshops run by Accenture, where they learnt skills to enhance their employability. 19 sport and leisure exhibitors were also on hand to discuss potential employment opportunities and training programmes that Sports Leaders could progress onto following their Sports Leaders UK awards and qualifications. Chief Executive of Sports Leaders UK, Linda Plowright said: “The Leaders for Life conventions enabled Sports Leaders from across the UK to benefit from the further information and opportunities that are available beyond their sports leadership awards and qualifications. “The Sports Leaders did a fantastic job in organising such a successful and productive event. I am thrilled that so many connections were made between Sports Leaders and potential employers, and with the prospect of the Dragon’s Den idea becoming a reality.” Note to editors: Sports Leaders UK is a charity delivering sports leadership awards and qualifications to more than 200,000 people a year, through 4,000 schools, colleges, local authorities, prisons and young offender units. It acts as an Awarding Body providing nationally recognised qualifications, and has a Foundation to deliver free or subsidised courses in areas of greatest need. A Sports Leader is anyone that has gained a Sports Leaders UK award or qualification. They organise, communicate and get people involved in sports activities. Sports Leaders are role models; helping others to achieve their goals and encouraging their communities to lead fit and healthy lifestyles. Sports Leaders UK Anne Compton, Public Relations T: 01908 689212 E: media@sportsleaders.org