Board development fund
The SGA Board Development Fund enables organisations operating in the sport and physical activity sector in the United Kingdom to access - free of charge - development training for their board members which can be customised, if required, and delivered in-house (either in-person or online). It allows organisations successful in the application process to identify areas of need or areas of particular focus for them which are not catered for by existing training provision.
The fund provides the flexibility to meet the needs of organisations with different requirements for their board's development and to provide training support in specific areas of governance.
The fund is limited and applications will be assessed against specified criteria, which include the specific need answered, the benefit to the organisation and the organisation’s access to paid-for training. Priority will be given to organisations that would otherwise be unable to obtain the requested training due to financial constraints.
Available courses
- Building an inclusive environment
- Creating your values and defining culture
- Board effectiveness
- Strategy and the decision-making process
- Boardroom dynamics
- Succession planning
- In-house delivery of Essential Sports Governance
- Conflicts of interest
- Preparing for a board evaluation
- Risk management
- Finance for non-finance managers
Within these areas, we will work with the organisations who apply successfully to understand their specific requirements and tailor the course content to their needs.
If your organisation is interested in multiple courses, you are able to make multiple applications. However, if your application is successful, your organisation will only be awarded one course.
The application process
Applications are invited from organisations in the SGA community during the application window. Applications must be submitted by 5 July 2024. All training applied for in the 2023 cycle must be completed by 30 November 2024.
Decisions on requests for training are made on the basis of responses to the questions contained in the online application form. Applications are scored according to the following criteria which have been agreed with our partner Sports Councils:
If you would prefer to answer the application in another format such as verbally over a video call please email us before the application deadline in order to organise a time.
Application criteria
PLEASE NOTE: Organisations must operate in the sport and physical activity sector in the United Kingdom.
| Application question | How scored? | Scoring criteria to be applied to applicant responses | |
| Benefit of training to the board and organisation |
How will the specified training benefit the board and the organisation? What areas of governance capability will it impact and how? |
0-10 | 10 – The knowledge/skills gained will have a significant impact or benefit to the board and the wider organisation.
5 – The knowledge/skills gained will have a moderate impact or benefit to the board and the wider organisation. 0 – The knowledge/skills gained will have no impact or benefit to the board and wider organisation. |
| Specific training needs addressed by the training | What specific need will this training address? | 0-10 | 10 – The organisation has identified specific areas of development for the board and these are met by the training requested.
5 – Consideration has been given to specific needs of the board but these are only partly addressed by the training requested. 0 – Little or no consideration has been given to specific needs of the board or how these will be addressed by the training requested. |
| Other board development activity |
What board development planning has your organisation undertaken and how would the requested training complement it?
Please note: Our intention is to see how the requested training will fit with any wider development plans, not to penalise you for not having an exhaustive plan. We appreciate that organisations are at different stages and have varying needs. We welcome submissions from all. |
0-10 |
10 – The organisation has a strong understanding of where it sits on its governance development journey, factoring in its current needs and skills and the organisation’s strategic direction. It has provided a clear explanation of the role of the requested training in its development. It is clear that the training will provide a positive contribution to that currently being undertaken. 5 – An attempt has been made to create a board development plan or to understand where the organisation sits on its governance development journey, but it is not clear where the requested training will fit in. 0 – There is no understanding of the board's current governance needs and skillset and/or no attempt has been made to show how the training will fit in. |
| Measuring impact | How will the impact of the training be measured? | 0-10 |
10 – Consideration has been given to how the impact will be measured, with a clear understanding of how the anticipated outcomes will be assessed. 5 – Some consideration has been given to how the impact will be measured, but this either lacks clarity or does not relate to the anticipated outcomes. 0 – Little or no consideration has been given to how impact will be measured, or appropriate means for doing this have not been identified. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial need/limited funding |
Are other sources of funding available to the organisation to access this training? If so, please provide brief details. |
Evidence/explanation given in application |
Access to funds is prioritised for those organisations who would otherwise be unable to obtain training/development due to financial need or limited funding opportunity. No – the organisation could not fund this training if unsuccessful in its application. Yes – the organisation could access other forms of funding for this training. |
Scoring against these criteria will be made on a sliding scale. Key points on this scale are identified in the table above.
Decisions on applications are final.
Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 16 May 2024 | Application window opens |
| 5 July 2024 - 5pm | Application window closes |
| 31 July 2024 | Final decisions and applicants notified |
| 30 November 2024 | Deadline for completion of training |
Successful organisations will be contacted by the SGA Team to further discuss their needs and to make arrangements for the delivery of the training.
In return for training being delivered to them, successful organisations are required to:
- acknowledge the provision of training through the Board development fund through their website, social media channels or other communications
- contribute to SGA output in a form agreed with the SGA Team. This may include but is not limited to blog posts, testimonials and/or case studies, etc.
Take a look at our tips for completing the application form to help you provide the best submissions that you can.
Applications for the Board Development Fund have now closed and will reopen in the first half of 2025
