Sport Birmingham’s October Club Together Conference brought together grassroots sports clubs, physical activity organisations, volunteers and community partners for a day of connection, collaboration and learning.
Held on a Sunday to make the event more accessible to volunteers with weekday work commitments, the conference provided a welcoming, informal space for attendees to meet new people, exchange ideas and discover the support, funding and resources available to strengthen their clubs.
The aim was simple: to help clubs navigate the support available across Birmingham, connect with the organisations behind it, and have their say on what local grassroots sport really needs.
Connecting clubs with the support they need
Running a grassroots sports club can be challenging, particularly for volunteers balancing club responsibilities with work and other commitments. Knowing where to turn for advice, funding, facilities, safeguarding support or help with volunteer recruitment can make a real difference.
The Club Together Conference brought these opportunities under one roof, helping attendees make valuable connections and discover practical ways to develop their organisations.
The programme included a session exploring the national and local picture for sports clubs, followed by a series of workshops covering key challenges and opportunities facing grassroots sport.
Workshop topics included Connecting With Local Communities, delivered by Active Birmingham; Recruiting and Retaining Volunteers, delivered by BVSC; Developing Club Culture, delivered by Sport Structures; Managing Different Behaviours and Needs, delivered by Make A Difference; the Power Up Community Sport programme, delivered by Sported; and Neuroinclusion, delivered by Access Sport.
These sessions offered opportunities to explore practical approaches, share experiences and learn from organisations with specialist knowledge and expertise.
Meeting the people behind the support
A key feature of the conference was its networking fair, which gave attendees the chance to speak directly with organisations, service providers and partners supporting grassroots sport across Birmingham.
Representatives from Active Birmingham, Sported, BVSC, Sport Structures, Access Sport, Patronus, Speak Out Safe, NEST, the Sport Welfare team, Local Activity Pilot Anchors and Make A Difference were available to share information, answer questions and help clubs identify relevant support.
From club management tools and safeguarding platforms to volunteer development, inclusion and community engagement, the fair helped connect clubs with resources that could support their ongoing development.
Topic bulletin boards also provided information and guidance across six important areas: funding, facilities, mental health, inclusion, coaching, and welfare and safeguarding.
With funding opportunities, practical advice and specialist support all available, attendees could explore the topics most relevant to their clubs and take away useful information to put into practice.
A welcoming space for conversation and collaboration
Beyond the workshops and information sessions, the conference created plenty of opportunities for informal conversations and networking.
With refreshments, hospitality and dietary needs catered for, the day was designed to be relaxed, friendly and accessible. Rather than formal presentations and lengthy lectures, the emphasis was on honest conversations, useful contacts and shared learning.
We were particularly pleased to welcome many new faces, clubs and organisations that had not previously connected with Sport Birmingham. The variety of attendees, along with their enthusiasm and engagement throughout the day, demonstrated a clear appetite across the local sport and physical activity community to come together, learn from one another and strengthen existing networks.
The connections made during the conference are an important step towards building a more connected, informed and supported grassroots sector.
Looking ahead
The Club Together Conference was an encouraging reminder of the value of bringing Birmingham’s grassroots sports community together.
By creating opportunities to share knowledge, discover support and build relationships, the event helped clubs connect with organisations and resources that can support their future development.
Sport Birmingham looks forward to building on the conversations and connections made throughout the day.
Couldn’t make it to the conference or want to build on the connections made? The follow up sessions from the conference will be heading to local spaces across the city. Register your interest below:
North: click here
East: click here
Central: click here
South: click here
West: click here