The Conference provided an excellent opportunity to network and share best practice with others in our sector through discussions on how to increase participation and reduce inactivity across the sector in the superb setting of Stoke City’s home ground. 

We would like to thank our Speakers, Workshop Leaders and those involved in supporting both Quest Active Communities and the Conference including CIMSPA, Sport England, Streetgames, EFDS and Places for People. 

Making it Happen, saw input from high profile speakers such as Sport England’s Head of Research & Evaluation, Darcy Hare and Mark England, Director of Sport at the British Olympics Association.

Also presenting workshops to delegates was Dr. Kath Edgar of research and technology company Substance, as well as Jane Ashworth and Gary White from StreetGames, the sports charity helping disadvantaged communities, and Steve Town and Mark Fosbrook from the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS).

Programme highlights included:

• A key note address from Sport England, StreetGames and Places for People on working ‘Towards an Active Nation for All’
• Interactive workshops around the new, improved Quest modules and cutting-edge work to address inequalities and deliver high quality outcomes
• A presentation from Mark England, the British Olympics Association’s Chef de Mission at the 2016 Rio Olympics, on the lessons learnt since London 2012 and how they could be replicated in the leisure sector

We hope that all those who attended the Conference enjoyed the day and found it useful, copies of speaker and workshop presentations can be found on the links below:

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

• Delivering High Performance - the Lessons Learnt on the Road from London to Rio, Mark England

TOWARDS AN ACTIVE NATION FOR ALL 

• Evidencing the Impact of Your Work against the Big Outcomes We Are Seeking to Achieve - Darcy Hare, Sport England
• Working Together in New Ways - Jane Ashworth, StreetGames
• Crossing the Great Divide - Richard Millard, Places for People

BEST PRACTICE WORKSHOPS - IMPROVEMENT AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

• The Stretch to Outstanding - Carl Bennett, Quest Stretch Validator & Matt Johnson, Greater Sport
• The new Sport4Development Model - Kath Edgar, Substance and Neil Young, Brentford FC Community Trust
• Making the Most out of your Active Communities Assessment - Paul Brivio and Lawrence Kay, Trilogy Leisure Trust

BEST PRACTICE WORKSHOPS - TACKLING INEQUALITIES AND DELIVERING GREAT OUTCOMES

• Health and Wellbeing - delivering outcomes around physical and mental health and wellbeing - Carl Bennett, Stoke City Community Trust
• Inclusive Services - Delivering Change and Growing the Market - Steve Town & Mark Fosbrook, EFDS
• Reaching out and engaging with young people from disadvantaged communities - Gary White, StreetGames