Governance and Leadership Framework for Wales
Governance and Leadership Framework for Wales
In late 2014, Sport Wales and the Sport and Recreation Alliance began to facilitate a move by Welsh governing bodies to create a structured programme of leadership and governance development. Following six months of consultation with over 50 National Governing Bodies (NGBs), a framework was produced and published in April 2015. This sets out what Sport Wales believes to be the minimum standard of governance and the expected leadership behaviours of those running sports in the country.
The Framework is designed to be flexible, simple and not prescriptive. It provides the principles of good governance, effective behaviours, practical recommendations and minimum expectations for sports organisations in Wales.
Unlike the Code for Sports Governance, the Framework is not mandatory. However, by signing up to it, bodies will be making a long-term commitment to aspire to good governance and leadership and to integrate the principles and behaviours across their organisation. It is left to each individual organisation as to how to implement the principles of the Framework and develop them.
This means acting as guardians of the sport, recreation, activity or area. The board must uphold the highest standards of integrity not only in what it does but also in the wider environment of its sport, recreation, activity or area.
The board needs to understand and evaluate the role it plays and the way it contributes to the organisation.
The board should set the strategy and vision of the organisation and ensure that it is followed without becoming involved in the operational delivery.
The board should be balanced, inclusive and skilled. It should be made up of individuals with the right balance of skills, knowledge and experience to meet the needs of the organisation. This includes independent expertise and representation of the diversity of the sport and the communities that the organisation serves.
The board needs to be conscious of the standards it should operate to, and of its role in exercising appropriate and effective control of the organisation.
The board needs to be open and accountable to its athletes, participants and members, and its actions should stand up to scrutiny.
The board needs to be aware of the international and domestic sporting environment and position its organisation appropriately.
Sport Wales and the Sport and Recreation Alliance developed an online support programme including guidance, toolkits and workshops to help embed the principles and behaviours in organisations.
