Rather than just a general helpline (although this is also available), you can get in touch to explain your governance challenge and we’ll book an appointment for an advisor, with a track record in that particular field, to arrange a meeting. In advance of the meeting you will also have the opportunity to provide background information, so that the Advisor is fully briefed on your concerns / challenges, to ensure you always get maximum value. Please click here to view our team of specialist advisors.

Please follow this link to view policies and guidance aligned to the GLFW principles (please note this will be updated following publication of revised document)

Online Learning Forum – opportunity to contribute to online debates, with peers and specialists. Sharing challenges and best practice via a Yammer site for which you will need to register

Face to face training programme – to be launched in line with the publication of the new Framework document

Leadership development – Signposting to leadership development programmes

Chairs’ Forum – Biannual themed events for Board Chairs to discuss and debate the challenges and opportunities for those that play a pivotal role in boardroom leadership.

Support for Sport Compliance Group – in the coming weeks, we will offer the opportunity for finance and governance leads to join this group, which will meet 3 times during the course of the next year, to discuss specific governance challenges. Topics discussed will be directed by participants and are likely to include GDPR, Making Tax Digital and Risk Management.

Knowledge Bank

– Beneficiaries of the programme will be able to request for specific skills and support from our developing bank of volunteers.

Find our training schedule

here

- For smaller beneficiary organisations, who have limited or no executive staff and rely mainly on the goodwill of volunteers to run their sport, we recognise that we will need to provide more practical support. This service will provide the opportunity for such beneficiaries to bid for the following assistance:

- Please note: In order to be considered for the following support your board must be fully committed to embracing and embedding any governance improvements made through this programme:

- Policy Writing Service: We're not all experts at writing a safeguarding policy or a privacy policy, a volunteer policy or a data management code, but, like many other policies and processes, we all need to have them; understand them; and, most importantly, commit to ensuring they are embedded into the culture of our organisation. We will not only give you the advice and guidance you need, but we can also give you a hand to write them too.

- Administrative support: For those organisations that have no executive support at all, getting the foundations of good governance in place can be a challenge. Not necessarily because the people in your Board room (or kitchen table) don’t have the skills but they simply don’t have the time. As a pilot programme, we are therefore offering up to four beneficiary organisations which can demonstrate full commitment to enhancing the foundations of good governance, the opportunity of five hours a week of administrative support (for a maximum of six months) to help you on your way. To bid for this support please get in touch with our office.

- For the larger organisations involved with this programme, with executive teams in place, the support required is likely to be more strategic than practical. We are committed to continuing to provide access to specialist governance consultants, available to challenge a Board’s thinking and help develop long-term strategic direction.

- Please click here to view our bank of consultants and get in touch if you are interested in booking. We will be able to provide you with a quote and apply a financial subsidy from the programme wherever possible

- Including briefings on the legislative, political and sporting landscape, case studies and profiles.

Quarterly Newsletter Issue 1

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Quarterly Newsletter Issue 2

Would your organisation benefit from some volunteering support? Do you have staff who are currently furloughed who would like to experience some personal development? Would you like to work in an organisation that can give you valuable learning and career development? This scheme hopes to achieve all of the above.

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To find out more, click here.

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Application for voluntary work, click here

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Request for volunteer support, click here

Who developed the GLFW?

The Governance and Leadership Framework is a structured programme developed by sport and active recreation sector in Wales. After six months consultation with over 50 Welsh governing bodies of sport to identify the expectations, focus and behaviours necessary for inclusion, the framework was developed and published in 2015 with a four-year programme of support running alongside.

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In the spring of 2019, representatives from the sector met to review progress and ensure that the document was still fit for purpose and aligned with the new Vision for Sport in Wales. While the overarching principles remain the same, a refreshed framework document has been developed to help those on their governance journey.

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The new version of the document provides a tiered approach to governance to ensure that it meets the needs of the breadth of organisations from across the sector:

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- Foundations for Success

- Building on Success

- Sustaining Success

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Why develop the GLFW?

The nature of funding for sport and active recreation in Wales is changing. With pressures on public funding and the dilution of the lottery market, money traditionally available to sport is decreasing. For our organisations to continue to thrive they must become more resilient and sustainable, and good governance is the foundation to this.

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This framework is different because it also looks at the organisational culture beyond the processes and systems, and the positive behaviours necessary to achieve good governance. The Framework has also been subject to an Equality Impact Assessment to ensure discrimination could be avoided, given the diverse nature of the Sector across Wales.

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Why is Framework the best way to achieve good governance?

The document it is based upon the Voluntary Code of Good Governance, which was launched in 2011, and has had significantly positive feedback in independent studies, with regards its effectiveness in assisting governance development. Whether in receipt of public funds or not, organisations that have committed to the Code have shown that it can make a difference to their organisations.

The evidence to date shows that this model is extremely effective, providing an organisation is committed to delivery.

Who is the Framework for?

The Framework is intended for use by any national or regional organisation within sport and active recreation. Its core purpose, or which uses sport and recreation to achieve community or social enterprise aims.

Organisations can be unincorporated associations, charities or companies of any form operating in the voluntary, private or public sectors. However, they must have control of their own affairs, as set out in a constitution or similar. Otherwise many of the principles could be inapplicable and they will be unable to take the actions necessary to implement the Framework.

While we believe that the principles of the framework provide good guidance for all sports organisations, we would recommend that individual organisations seek specific governance guidance. Here in Wales, that support has been contracted out by Sport Wales, to Vibrant Nation, the trading arm of the Welsh Sports Association.

What are the benefits of signing up to the Framework?

Great governance and leadership is fundamental to developing a sustainable organization. It requires establishing the systems and processes which underpin good working practice and make your organisation more efficient.

The Framework also gives credibility with participants, funders and commercial partners – helping to build their confidence in your organization. Strengthening these relationships can have a positive impact on how stakeholders, such as these, work with you to achieve your strategic aims.

Signing up to the Framework is a commitment to using the principles as benchmarking tools to assess how well you are doing against great governance and leadership practice; and can help you address gaps and create positive change. There is no timeline for implementation and signing-up is a statement of intent which your members, partners and stakeholders will expect to be followed by constructive action. How you use the Framework and what it means for your organisation is for you to develop.

Signatories to the Framework will also receive access to additional support opportunities in order to assist in the development of your organisation, in line with your assessment, of your needs, against the Framework principles and behaviours.

If we cannot achieve everything included in the Framework at the moment, does this mean we cannot or should not sign-up?

This iteration of the GLFW provides a tiered approach to governance, allowing organisations to decide where they are on their governance pathway, and setting out guidance on progression.

It is recognised that not every organisation will be able to meet each and every one of the recommendations, but this version demonstrates what the minimum expectations required of organisations across all areas of governance are, and provides guidance and suggested action for progression.

Signing up to the Framework is a statement that says your organisation is prepared to think seriously about governance and to bring the principles and behaviours to life in a way that suits your organisation. It is not a confirmation that you have already fully enacted all the principles and are fully compliant with all expected behaviours.

What support will my organisation receive if it signs up?

There will be areas within the Framework that your organisation will highlight for improvement and development.

Sport Wales and the Vibrant Nation have developed a support programme, to support you on your governance journey. More details can be found by following these links: http://sport.wales/news--events/news--events/events/governance--leadership-framework-conference2015.aspx

https://www.vibrantnation.co.uk/glfw

How will compliance with the Framework be measured? This version of the Framework is primarily a self-regulatory tool which has been developed to sit alongside Sport Wales Investment strategy. Each GLFW principle is accompanied by a list of tiered success indicators to aid progress measurement. The first tier, Foundations of Success, reflects the criteria in the minimum requirements of Sport Wales funding, which is also fairly typical of the expectations of other public and third sector funders.

Essentially, compliance with the Framework will be measured by the organisation itself as part of a governance improvement plan.

What happens if we do not sign up to the Framework?

The Sport and Recreation Sector in Wales have recognised the need for improved governance and leadership and the Framework has been developed “for the sector by the sector”.

The latest version of the framework has been developed with the expectations of funding bodies in mind. For sport to diversify its income streams and look to other potential funders, good governance is imperative and so we believe that adhering to these principles of good governance will stand you in good stead with any funding organisation.

The ambition is that all Sport and Active Recreation organisations in Wales will sign-up to the Framework and commit to making significant improvements in this area, as we move to becoming a more resilient and sustainable sector.

How do we sign up to the Framework?

Get in touch with Vibrant Nation to register your interest. https://www.vibrantnation.co.uk/glfw

At Board level, consider the Framework and what its principles mean and get approval to signup.

Pledge that your organisation is committed to improving its governance and leadership

Include the Framework as an objective in your strategic plan.

Select an individual in your organisation to lead on the delivery of Framework’s principles

For more information on the support available, please contact Vibrant Nation on 029 2033 4981