A Sporting Chance
project toolkit

Find the right partners

The following partnership is essential:

• An education institution (school/college/training provider) recruiting learners and delivering mainstream programmes… this means they will have access to local and national education funding and support, the 'ear' of fellow professionals and an audience for details of successful models. They should have the expertise to deliver the programmes.
   
• The local government/council… the organisation with a vested interest in achieving educational success and access to local, national and European funds. These can be the 'movers and shakers' in getting things going and attracting appropriate levels of support, providing essential pre-conditions that enable the local partners to work together.
   
• A sporting venue… but one representing a sport that is at the heart of local culture. This may present problems because the increased effectiveness/range of the media means that sports and teams that operate outside the local area (even in other countries) may be the one that captures the imagination of learners. Please refer to Environment for details of how this issue may be addressed.
   
• Other agencies… groups that have contact with and influence over the target audience. Or groups with similar goals such as the KNVB or the FA.