Sport England has launched a new £5 million national initiative, Leading the Movement, to support leaders across the sport and physical activity sector in tackling inequalities and ensuring the benefits of being active are accessible to all.
The National Lottery-funded programme will run until March 2029 and aims to build a diverse and empowered leadership community. By offering support at all levels, it will help leaders understand and address the challenges they face through training, coaching, mentoring and wider engagement.
A dedicated microsite has also been launched, providing free resources including guidance, articles, case studies, toolkits and a sector-wide newsletter with regular updates.
The programme seeks to improve connectivity between leaders, encouraging the exchange of ideas, experiences and learning. It will also offer targeted support for under-represented groups and those working in underserved communities.
Jeanette Bain-Burnett, executive director of policy and integrity at Sport England, said: 'We’re excited to launch this leadership offer, which marks a significant step forward in our pursuit of the goals set out in our Uniting the Movement strategy.'
Leading the Movement aims to support hundreds of individual leaders each year until 2029. This includes dedicated coaching and mentoring, as well as bespoke place-based leadership courses aligned with Sport England’s Place Partnership investment.
Building a leadership community across the sector is also a key goal, creating opportunities to share best practice and form stronger connections. The ultimate aim is for leaders at all levels to prioritise tackling inequalities when driving change, making sport and physical activity more inclusive.
'We all have a role to play in tackling inequalities – this is truly challenging work, requiring a deliberate change in the way we do things and the partnerships we form,' Bain-Burnett added.
'This refreshed offer also focuses on identifying and supporting leaders who might otherwise be overlooked, giving them the networks, support and skills they need to thrive. Leading the Movement is here to help with that, and our investment in this programme will help realise the power of all the amazing leaders and networks in our sector.'
www.leadingthemovement.org
