Levelling the Playing Field is delighted to offer CEOs, project leaders and key management staff in our network of specialist delivery partners the opportunity to take part in a bespoke leadership skills programme.
The free training programme has been devised specifically to support leaders in LtPF’s network with strategic thinking, future planning, funding, growth and sustainability.
The programme has been researched and designed by the Alliance of Sport in collaboration with the Cranfield Trust, the organisation which provides free-of-charge management support to charities to help make them more effective and sustainable.
Together, we’ve taken time to understand the needs of ethnically diverse organisations in the LtPF network then, with them, co-developed a ‘best fit’ programme.
Geof Cox, a consultant for the Cranfield Trust, explains the rationale behind the programme: “The typical issue faced by local organisations is the lack of focus on their development and sustainability – they are very good at linking with their target community and delivering operational outcomes, but sometimes need more support with strategic thinking, planning for growth and sustainable funding. This is where the leadership programme is targeted.
“To have organisation leaders who are very good at operational management but less experienced in strategic thinking is common, not just in small not-for-profit organisations but also in large multinationals. Most people rise to the top of organisations by being good at delivery – implementing plans and achieving short term objectives and targets. They then find they need different skills to develop the organisation, which they do not have.
“In simple terms, people develop good management skills (being able to get from A to B), but need help to develop leadership skills (being able to define where B is and why we should go there).
“This is often exacerbated by funders who deliver ready-made projects and targets to local organisations, so that they do not need to think for themselves. The outcome is that local delivery partners become dependent on external sources and are less independently sustainable.”
The programme will begin with an identification of need at a personal and organisational level, followed by workshops conducted in pairs with leaders from other organisations to identify each other’s strengths and gaps. Focus then turns to establishing a vision and designing a development plan to work towards it.
Subsequent modules will focus on personal leadership style, team leadership, strategic thinking and ‘influencing’ (the art of getting stakeholders, volunteers and partners to do things without having direct authority).
The programme will be available to Levelling the Playing Field local delivery partners in London, the West Midlands, Gwent and South Yorkshire.
Alliance of Sport Strategic Consultant Andrew Anastasiou commented: “We are delighted to be able to offer training that responds directly to the most acute needs of our Levelling the Playing Field partners. This training will strengthen their sustainability and ultimately have an immensely positive long-term impact on young people in ethnically diverse communities.”
The leadership training is free to projects in the Levelling the Playing Field network and will be delivered via a mixture of online and face-to-face workshops.
To sign up, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.