Sports Social Enterprise Kitbag

The Sports Social Enterprise Project was created through funding from the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and Sport England, East Midlands. Some of the projects aims include:

Promoting the benefits of social enterprise in sport and its role in community regeneration and social inclusion
Developing a clear picture of the range, scope, activity and needs of social and community enterprise which focuses on sports related activities in and around the east midlands
Identifying opportunities for the further growth of sports related social enterprise which will contribute to greater economic inclusion and vibrant local economies
Establishing links with existing stakeholders and networks

The over arching purpose is to ensure that, within a wider social enterprise context, social enterprises which focus on sporting activities or sports services are enabled to grow and contribute positively to increased participation, social inclusion, regeneration and the development of sustainable communities.

The project has developed a clear picture of the range, scope, activity and needs of sporting social enterprises and has assisted the development of a number of pilot projects that have helped grow the sector. The project has also helped to develop new market opportunities in this sector and has worked strategically to ensure the regional support infrastructure is aware of, and is set up, to enable sporting social enterprises to flourish.

This work was guided by the publication of research into the sector – “Sport in the East Midlands: The Role of Social Enterprises” (PAWA, 2004 – download the report here - 3.2 MB).

Findings from the report has underpinned many of the activities of the project to date, as well as providing important intelligence for agencies such as SEEM, emda, Sport England and for social enterprises themselves.

Continuation funding has been secured for this post until 2007 to develop the sector further and build on existing successes while exploring new areas of sports social enterprise development.

With the launch of the Sports Kitbag website, the project is now entering another phase of development. New ‘themes’ of work are emerging such as the opportunities for public sector procurement for social enterprises involved in sport and physical activity.

Significant progress has been made since the establishment of this post and the publication of the PAWA report. The project work plan that was developed in consultation with the sector has resulted in many benefits to the sector including the publication of an information leaflet, a regional conference and launch of the Sports Kitbag website and CD ROM.

You can download the information leaflet here (0.7 MB)

The project is now in its next phase of development and comments and suggestions are welcomed from those interested in the area of sports and social enterprise.

As the sector grows, there are new challenges and opportunities to be overcome and explored. The intention was to bridge the gap between ‘sport’ and ‘social enterprise’ – as both sides does not sometimes understand the other.

It is to this end that the project was established, the leaflet printed, emerging social enterprises supported, a conference organised and the Sports Kitbag developed. The aim: to unlock the potential of combining sports and social enterprise.