Campus West Art Centre, Welwyn Garden City was the venue for the inaugural Hertfordshire Sports Development Conference held on Wednesday 23rd November 2011.
The event, organised by the Herts Sports Development Officer's Group, with the support of the Herts Sports Partnership, featured a number of leading speakers from across the sport and leisure sector, including John Bell, the former Director of Services at Knowsley Council, and current Secretary of CLOA - the Chief Leisure Officers Association.
John was joined by Cllr. Stephen Castle, Sport England's Regional Champion for Community Sport, who delivered an absorbing closing keynote address about the opportunities for local government sports development services as we approach 2012.
With over 50 delegates, including some elected members, drawn from Hertfordshire's 10 district and borough council areas, the event was a resounding success. So much so that plans are already underway for the follow up event next year.
"We were delighted that we were able to attract such high profile and well respected presenters for this conference, and we are indebted to our speakers for giving up their time so freely" said Chair of the event planning group, John O'Callaghan of the Herts Sports Partnership. "At such a challenging time for local government sport and leisure services, the programme was a timely reminder of the fantastic opportunities that will come the way of Hertfordshire, as a result of our status as a host county for the London 2012 Games".
Ed Sandham, representing Sport England and Matthew Warren of Badminton England reflected on some of those opportunites and urged delegates to seize the moment and be bold in their planning, as such opportunities may not present themselves again for at least a generation.
The line up of presenters was completed by the engaging Robin Gargrave, Director of Innovation at the Central YMCA, who shared his experiences of programmes that had been successful in attracting those groups and individuals deemed to be hard to reach.
"In planning this event we wanted to showcase some of the excellent programmes being delivered by our Sports Development Teams and key partners across the county. We also wanted to ensure that those teams could better understand and take advantage of the opportunities that will result from the greatest show on earth landing on our doorstep in 2012. On both accounts the event bettered expectations" said O'Callaghan.
"Feedback has been extremely positive. The conference helped instil new energy levels and inspired a raft of new ideas to ensure that local sports development services will continue to support key local priorities going into and beyond 2012".
For your convenience, please find below the programme and presentations for the day.
Herts Sports Development Conference Programme
New Challenges, New Opportunities - John Bell, Hon Sec Chief Cultural & Leisure Officers Association
Engaging the Hard to Reach - Robin Gargrave, Innovation and Development Director, Central YMCA
NGBs and Leisure Operators - Matthew Warren, Regional Manager, Badminton England
Sport England Strategic Review & current funding programme - Ed Sandham, Local Government Relationship Manager, Sport England
Opportunities from London 2012 for local government sports development services - Cllr Stephen Castle, East Region Champion for Community Sport
