I'm really pleased to say I have agreed to serve another term as Chair of the Sport for Development Coalition.
I took over at the very start of Covid when we headed straight into online meetings and ironically held our Board this week online due to the train strikes.
I really do feel deeply committed to the work of this part of the wider sport sector - where organisations and individuals are making a difference to peoples lives and their opportunities by tackling some of the deepest rooted inequalities and injustices.
It is all made easy by the fantastic team I have had over the years - Ollie Dudfield Simon Lansley Hitesh Patel Kelly Smith Amy Caterson Erin Kirby as well as one of the best boards you could wish for with even more supporting work streams and groups from the sector, academia and our funders. None would be possible without Sport England Laureus and Comic Relief. There are many more to thank along the way - they know who they are! Too many to tag.
But there is still so much more to do as strategies and funders realise the importance of the sector in delivering its own goals of social justice and equality through sport. I am also learning daily about the tensions of a servant leadership that believes in genuine collaboration though a coalition and the need to get things done at speed! It has had its moments but I have enjoyed the new challenge!
It would be great to see more get involved in joining the movement and adding to our collective voice!
