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National leadership course
Tackling inactivity is a nationwide challenge. We’re on a collective mission to tackle inequalities in sport and physical activity and create positive and transformational change in our communities. This requires strong leadership at every level and across all parts of the systems and networks that influence people’s behaviours and activity habits.
Our national leadership course supports existing and aspiring leaders with a strategic responsibility for sport and physical activity in their area or organisation. The course enables them to reflect on and enhance their collaborative leadership skills so that they can support and influence the delivery of whole systems change. The course is also suitable for leaders working in aligned sectors, such as health, community development, and education.
These residential courses are fully funded by The National Lottery - there is no charge to attend.
Our offer
A two-and-a-half-day leadership course delivered by expert facilitators, guest speakers and inspiring leaders.
Participants will hear from those with lived experience of working to deliver whole systems change, whilst receiving leadership advice, practical hints and tips and opportunities to engage in practical guided activities.
Designed for leaders, with leaders.
The course content is co-designed by leaders and participants, reflecting the learning from Sport England’s investment into Place Partnerships and the previous Leadership Essentials Programme.
Participating leaders will share and learn from each other, build new networks and can sign up to join our Leadership Community for ongoing support.
Our expert facilitators bring together cohorts of leaders from councils, Active Partnerships, national governing bodies, national charities and sporting or leisure trusts to challenge, develop and deepen participants knowledge, understanding, networks, skills, confidence and influence. Our courses aim to support leaders to:
- Better understand the national and local contexts and structures they’re operating within.
- Engage with the priorities of Sport England’s Uniting the Movement strategy, in particular tackling inequalities.
- Consider the complexities of physical activity/inactivity habits and behaviours and the systems and networks that influence them.
- Understand the impact that physical activity can have on wider priorities and policy areas including health, social care and connecting communities.
- Explore systems thinking, systems change, collaborative leadership and how to engage with cross-cutting agendas.
- Explore and discuss how place-based and whole systems approaches could be used to activate change.
- Reflect on their own challenges and approach to leadership, including the creation of a personal action plan.
- Learn from other leaders and pick up practical takeaways.
- Have a greater awareness of the wider support and networks available to them.
“Really valued having the dedicated time to learn about different approaches and the theory behind systems thinking, and the space/opportunity to discuss it, and share what that means for us in our work.”
Claire Tabor, CYP Manager, Active Dorset
‘I am not from a ‘traditional leisure or sport background’ but this was a great insight and helped contextualise the challenges and opportunities around physical activity.”
Rob Smithers, Group Manager, Derby City Council
“Great opportunity to network with others from across the sector, as well as providing insight into different and better ways of working. Really felt empowered as a result.”
James Roche, Angling Development Manager, Angling Trust
Self-nominate
Please note that these courses are available to leaders with a strategic responsibility for sport and physical activity who are currently working for councils, Active Partnerships, national governing bodies of sport, national charities and sporting or leisure trusts. If you’re currently not eligible for this support, please explore our ‘About us’ page to find out what else is on offer.
We’ll be running three courses in the second part of 2025, in different locations across the country.
- Coventry (21-23 July 2025, Warwick Conferences, University of Warwick)
- Winchester (2-4 September 2025, voco Winchester Hotel and Spa)
- Newcastle (24-26 November 2025, Holiday Inn, Gosforth Park, Newcastle)
If you think you or a colleague could benefit from this course, and you’re eligible to apply, please complete the self-nomination form below.
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