Hertfordshire Clubs Conference 2025

Hertfordshire Clubs Conference 2025

The Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership Annual Clubs Conference for 2025 is being held on Friday 10th October at the Fielder Centre, Hatfield.

We are delighted to be welcoming Sport England Director of Strategy Simon Macqueen MBE to deliver the keynote address. Simon is a highly respected leader in the UK’s sports sector and has previously worked for both Watford FC Community Sport and Education Trust and the Football Association in Bedfordshire before joining Sport England where - as the Director of Strategy - he oversees the implementation of Uniting the Movement.

Based in Hertfordshire for the last 25 years, Simon sits as the Chair of Watford FC CSE Trust as well as being the Chair of Sarratt Rebels Junior Football club and also coaching the U13s team.

He is a champion for charitable efforts, notably raising funds for Alice’s Arc, a charity established in memory of his daughter, who sadly passed away in 2019 aged 9 years old after short battle with cancer.

In recognition of his achievements, Simon was named an MBE in the 2025 New Year’s Honours for services to sport

Each attendee will have the opportunity to attend two workshops, one in the morning session and one after lunch. Please see the selection of workshops below, please note several of the afternoon courses are accredited courses and as such have limited capacity and may incur a cost for failure to attend.

Schedule

09:30 - Arrival

10:00 – Welcome & Introductions

10:05 – Keynote – Simon Macqueen MBE - Director of Strategy, Sport England

10:35 – Break

10:45 – Marketplace

11:30 – Morning Workshops (More information on workshops below)

12:30 – Lunch

13:30 – Afternoon Workshops (More information on workshops)

16:30 – Finish

Morning Workshops - 1 1:30-12:30

1) Introduction to Sport Welfare - The emphasis on welfare and safeguarding in sport has never been more prevalent. Since the Whyte Review into British Gymnastics, Sport England have provided funding to all Active Partnerships to focus on improving welfare standards. This workshop, delivered by the recently appointed Sport Welfare Officer for Hertfordshire, will highlight practical advice and guidance to help raise welfare standards in your club.

2 ) Volunteering - Recruiting & Retaining Volunteers - Volunteers are the lifeblood of any sports club. This workshop, delivered by Community Action Dacorum, will highlight steps to make recruiting volunteers that little bit easier, as well as providing tips to make your club more attractive for any prospective volunteers and help share the load. This workshop will also showcase a project delivered in partnership with HSP to highlight the benefits Councils for Voluntary Services can provide clubs.

3 ) Developing Links with Schools - Delivered by Tanya Angus one of the leading School Games Organisers in the county, this workshop will help you to build mutually beneficial relationships with schools and provide first-hand examples of good practice.

4 ) Raising Money - Developed by Buddle, this workshop explores effective fundraising strategies, from partnering with organisations to identifying local opportunities and mobilising your community. This workshop provides practical guidance on fundraising strategies to support your club or organisation’s financial sustainability. Attendees will explore various ways to raise money, including grant funding and learn the key ‘dos and don’ts’ for securing financial support.

Through interactive discussions, attendees will assess their organisation’s funding needs, compare different fundraising approaches, and develop a tailored plan to meet both short-term and long-term financial goals.

5) Engaging with Disabled People - This workshop will look at the Activity Alliance 10 principles to make your club more accessible. We will look at the 10 principles and identify what this might look like at your own club with different ideas and examples for you to take away as well as how your club can effectively reach and engage more disabled people through inclusive practice and utilising more accessible, improved communication.

Afternoon Workshops - 1 3:30-16:30 (Afternoon workshops vary in length)

1) Engaging Your Community (13:30-15:30)- This workshop explores the principles and benefits of community engagement, helping organisations build stronger connections with the people they serve. Learners will assess their current relationship with their local community, identify opportunities for deeper engagement, and develop practical strategies to strengthen these connections. Through discussion and reflection, attendees will map out their community landscape, explore their organisation’s role within it, and devise action plans to foster meaningful interactions that support both their goals and the wider community’s needs.

2 ) Mental Health First Aid - (13:30-16:30) This workshop is for people who would like to increase their knowledge and understanding of mental health and how concerns may manifest within a sports club setting and give you the confidence to signpost to the appropriate support.

3 ) Safeguarding & Protecting Children - (13:30-16:30) (Accredited Course) - This workshop will raise your awareness of the tell-tale signs of abuse and give you the tools and confidence to deal with any issues sensitively, appropriately and effectively. (Please note this is an acredited course and failure to attend will incur a £35 charge)

4) Funding (13:30-15:30) - This workshop will explore some of the more accessible funding pots that are open to clubs at the moment including the Sport England Movement Fund and The National Lottery Awards 4 All Fund. The workshop will also cover funding applications and what to include to make your bid as strong as it can be.