CSPN Partnership
On behalf of member companies the FSPA has in 2009, forged an exciting new long term partnership with Sport England’s National County Sports Partnerships Network, which continues into 2010 and beyond
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Who are County Sports Partnerships?
County Sports Partnerships (CSP’s for short), of which there are 49 nationwide, are a vital county network of local authorities, PCT’s, schools and clubs. CSP’s are led by a central team whose job it is to provide leadership and co-ordination of a network that is focused on sport and physical activity.
Why has the FSPA partnered with the CSPN?
FSPA members have asked at various FSPA events that the FSPA as a representing body (with the advantage of its collective membership base) try and forge links for members to gain inroads to Sport England and this network, as they are a crucial body in influencing and providing inroads into local authorities, schools and clubs – all who require and purchase sports goods and equipment.
One Sport England scheme called “Sport Unlimited” has £33 million funding which is shared between National Governing Bodies (NGB) and County Sports Partners (CSP) to deliver sports programmes for 5-19yr olds over three years (2009-2011)– the FSPA wished to develop links so that CSP’s work with (and use the products/expertise of) FSPA member companies to deliver these programmes.
For Sport Unlimited and other national programmes, CSP’s receive a large amount of Sport England funding to deliver sports participation events/programmes both regionally and nationwide. The FSPA outlined how CSP’s have the opportunity to utilise the expertise and support of FSPA member companies to partner in developing and delivering these initiatives, which the CSPN Chair and Directors were extremely interested in and keen to explore.
What Partnership has been forged to date?
The FSPA in 2009 held a Sport England Information Day, a CSP Workshop event and other meetings with the CSPN Chair and Directors, and both parties agreed the vital principles required for forming a lasting and successful Partnership.
One of the most important Principles agreed was to ensure it was a Partnership not Sponsorship and that FSPA members were involved in initiatives/events from the onset and so could contribute to planning as well as working on the various support/promotional products/equipment/clothing they could provide.
It was also imperative that any venture/partnership was mutually beneficial for both parties (eg CSP’s meet targets of increasing sports participation, whilst FSPA member companies gain brand awareness, publicity, and product sales through various programmes/events.
Steering Group – Pilot Project Explained
With the above principles agreed, both parties formed a Steering Group made up of a group of FSPA members and regional County Sports Partners, plus CSPN Chair Richard Saunders, and FSPA representatives. This group decided a structured pilot project would be the most effective way of monitoring progress and developing partnership templates, and so a Pilot Project was established.
This project has developed a partnership template model which will aid in FSPA members and CSP’s linking up and working together on mutually attractive sport/area/programmes. This pilot and the toolkit provided to potential partnerships hopes to be rolled out for FSPA members and CSP’s to use nationally. The FSPA has also set up a CSP/FSPA Message-board facility which will aid communication between both parties who can post requests for information / certain sports / activities they’d like to work on and any support required, and tender opportunities, new products needed / being developed etc.
Partnering the CSPN National Convention
As a result of this new partnership, the FSPA has been approached to partner with the County Sports Partnership Network, The Department of Health and Sport England on the first ever National CSP Convention to be held on Tuesday 30th March 2010. The FSPA attended the Convention Steering Committee at Sport England offices in late January, and finer details of the convention seminar programme and possible FSPA member opportunities have now been discussed and agreed with information being sent to all members individually.
What does this mean for you as an FSPA member?
If you currently work with clubs/school/local authorities, are you also working with your regional country sports partnership? If not, they are a crucial grass-root link and an avenue well worth exploring, in order to generate new business, reach target groups, increase your brand awareness, and with a view to sell more products.
Many CSP’s have a wide range of target participation sports that they have to work on, however often they choose a handful of sports to focus on, and this may well fit with your product ranges.
For the 49 CSP’s operating nationwide, there is a huge range in size, capability and resource between each, and so although you may wish to work closely with your regional and local CSP, there may also be opportunities (if a model was structured and agreed) to get your brand/product working across all on a national basis.
2010 and Beyond
The Federation as a representing voice of the sports and play industry, are now gaining full recognition (and requests to partner) from a number of key bodies in UK sport, and this progress can only provide more unique, exciting opportunities for member companies in 2010 and beyond.