Sadly too many recent conversations with friends and colleagues have been focussed around an increasing level of uncertainty and the frustration that goes with this. Slow decision making and 'silence' have replaced the chaos of the last few years from central government.
We all know that "Change is the only constant" but it doesn't make it much better for organisations or individuals so uncertain about their future. I personally don't mind the challenge of change - in fact I welcome it. The world is far from perfect so most of the time I am campaigning and calling for change! I can't complain when it then becomes uncomfortable along the way.
In sport the #unitingthemovment strategy is a welcome change of direction. Unless there are some painful changes for traditional partners, tackling inequalities and injustice won't happen. So change is a good thing.
This is a question I have been asking myself for-nearly 25 years.
However just before Christmas 2021 there was a specific lack of response from the government in the financial package to help with latest Covid Plan B restrictions which excluded the leisure sector, but included hospitality pubs and restaurants.
The sector has warned of the consequences for gyms and leisure services.
Schools have warned about the late notice for secured funding for SGOs and the Pupil Premium.
Local authorities continually highlight the impact of leisure spending on communities.
So why don’t government understand the sector. What do they understand and what have we been doing wrong all this time?
So we have a new 10 year strategy for Sport England and endorsed by the Sports Minister at DCMS. But as we all know with a strategy launch this is just the beginning.
Firstly I would put down a marker to say I am deeply impressed by the process of the development of the strategy (despite its delayed start due to a General Election and the onslaught of a Pandemic on the sector). As I tweeted yesterday none of the strategy was a surprise because the process had been open, honest and transparent. The end product is what you could see on the website for the last few weeks around the key themes!
Secondly it's great it is an evolution of the current direction of travel since the Sporting Futures strategy and thankfully aimed at a 10 year timeframe. At last! However, the prospect of governments (or Ministers) changing affects how sure we are of a 10 year strategy being possible in reality. Fingers crossed. But that is part of our job to show to politicians and government it is right, its working and to build on success not tear down and start again. I have always been realistic that it is hard to convince a newly appointed Minister not to do anything or 'something'. You get 2.3 years on average. You want to make a mark. Who wouldn't? We need to show the overall direction doesn't need switching back and forth as we have for the last 20 years.
There are plenty of opportunities over the coming period of consultation to develop the business plan to dive into aspects of the strategy which we really like and other areas where there is clearly still room for work to be done (Measuring the impact springs to mind)
However, we are also very keen on developing the delivery mechanisms of the strategy. As recent research has highlighted there have been some 14 Obesity Strategies in the UK over the last 30 years containing 698 policies. I think we could all agree they have not been universally successful. We would argue this has been a result of a number of factors including the timidity of successive governments to tackle the vested interests, to avoid been seen as the 'Nanny State' as well as the strategy launch being seen by too many at the heart of government as 'job done'
We know full well that the team at Sport England really understand this and there will be further changes in culture, approach and organisation as the strategy is rolled out. But it won't be easy. It seems from reaction that most people welcomed the launch. But there are some tough choices ahead and when some of these impact on funding levels for those who may have been used to the old approach some of that support could slip away quickly. Those of us who support the central themes of this strategy need to support its implementation even when the going gets tough.
Now we have another period of detailed check and challenge and consultation as the Business Plan is developed, why not share your thoughts, aspirations and fears with us? We exist to help create a space for healthy and constructive dialogue. Let us know your initial reactions and how you will be working differently.
This strategy does build on a direction of travel away from purely delivering 'sport' in its traditional sense. Many of our supporters have questioned whether 'Sport England' is still the right title. We know this journey. Our own name of the Sports Think Tank doesn't really convey the breadth of our own interest in wider policies of physical activity. movement, wellbeing and health inequalities. But we think it's more important to spend time and energy on tackling this issues and not navel gazing on a name. if we ever get a breathing space we might consider a re brand but in the meantime we will concentrate on the issues!
It’s a lesson we would do well to remember everytime we get excited or annoyed with social media. Depsite it’s massive reach it isn’t the real world.
In politics I learned this a long time ago. If twitter was the electorate Labour would have onw in 2017 and 2020. But it isn’t. Like most platforms it is unrepresentaive of the wider public.
Algorithms create and reinforce our own echo chambers and many moderates ( i place myself int his category) won’t engage with the more extreme views on these platforms fo fear of abuse and trolling. I gave up on the some Labour facebook groups during the Corbyn era. I just didn’t have the energy to get into pointless arguments with the cultists.
So as you can see from this latest data from YouGov - await abuse about polling - the public is way ahead of Johnson and the government on Lockdown. Lke #Brexit he ahs listened far too much to the new ERG - the CGR wing of his party and not enough to the sensible centre!
How do Brits feel about the new national lockdown? | YouGov
Overall, the vast majority (85%) of Britons support the national lockdown measures introduced across the UK this week, including 62% who "strongly" support them. This compares to 93% of Britons who supported the first national lockdown in March 2020.
Only 11% of Britons are opposed to the new measures, including 5% who are "somewhat" opposed and 6% who are "strongly" opposed to the new measures.
The lesson is listen and get outside your echo chamber.
Re-inventing our neighbourhoods and High Streets - why we back the “15 Minute neighbourhoods” concept.
For us our work at SajeImpact around Physical Activity and economic regeneration has come together during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
The changes in work practises and shopping habits (changing over a longer period of time), the decline of the commute and the supposed drive at the end of Summer to get people back into our cities has drawn attention to the possibility that there is a different way to live our lives.
It does not mean these changes are easy or without pain but what if we could embrace the end of the commute into the City and help regenerate our local neighbourhood. What if we could reshape the declining retail High Street with a far more inviting leisure, recreational and retail offer? What if.
I returned from a welcome break in Anglesey in August thinking ahead to a post Covid world and what our futures would look like. At the stage I wrote this below we didn’t know our daughters A level results, how Universities would open up, how this SajeImpact business would be working. I will reflect on what I wrote in August at the end of November and see how it fared!
The campaign to keep the nation active during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, Join the Movement, continued today with the launch of a television advert.
Made entirely with self-shot videos from members of the public embodying our #StayInWorkOut motto, the ad has been backed by the likes of triathletes Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, Strictly Come Dancing's Karen Hauer, ex-England footballer Kelly Smith and former European 10,000m champion Jo Pavey.
Everywhere you look people are writing about life after the Coronavirus pandemic. For many there is a rush to get back to normal as quickly as possible. However, for Saje Impact it has been the moment to stop reflect and redirect our passions.
Friends and those who follow our story will know that 2020 was supposed to be the year of change and a new season anyway. However, one of my greatest weaknesses is the inability to say no and focus on one or two projects. This is why the ‘retirement’ wasn’t going very well. I was just filling up anytime I got back with other ideas, projects and passions.
The last few weeks have been a wake up call. It has felt like a mini rehearsal for a more balanced / retired life that I was hoping to create anyway. And guess what. I enjoy it. I would like to be doing a bit more of the travel and networking but I have really coped with slowing down and even enjoying a bit more gardening!
I have been lazy in capturing and honing my thoughts and observations on life. As I move into the next phase of my own life (not retirement) I have more time for reflection and want to share my random thoughts more widely. The mini blogs below are definitely a work in progress not the finished article. I need feedback and comments to help me adjust and broaden my thinking and perspective. So don’t hold back. Check and challenge.
