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
How was the Code created?
Sport and Recreation Alliance
Governance Stakeholder Group
Comprising of nine NGBs (small voluntary led and
large funded organisations)
Identified a need for one single governance vision
Partner Organisations
Supported by Birkbeck University, British Olympic
Association, British Paralympic Association,
SkillsActive, Sport England and UK Sport
Sector-wide consultation
Endorsement by Minister for
Sport and the Olympics
NGBs, CSPs and representative bodies fed in
responses to a consultation and the Code was redrafted based on the views of the sector
Welcomed commitment to good governance from
the sector and urged organisations to embrace
the Code
Created by the Sector, for the Sector
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 Videos
First Principle
Second Principle
Third Principle
Seventh Principle
Seb Coe, LOCOG
Richard Lewis, RFL
Fourth Principle
Dame Tanni Grey-Thomspon
Jane Nickerson, ASA
Craig Hunter, BOA
Mary Tetley, BSAC
David Hemery
Steve Nelson, West of
England Sport Trust
Fifth Principle
Sixth Principle
Timothy Dutton QC
Peter King, British Cycling
Sir Stuart Etherington, NCVO
Adrian Christy, Badminton
Baroness Sue Campbell, UK
Sport
Lisa Wainwright, Volleyball
Logo and Certificate
Smart Sport Resource Bank
Thank You for listening