What were our objectives?
Leicestershire and Rutland County Sports Partnership had a wide range of partnerships with agencies and providers. Reporting and decision making was complex at a time when the county needed an efficient and unified approach to increasing community participation in sport and active recreation. Leicestershire and Rutland also wanted to increase sporting excellence and support the development of player and athlete pathways to performance.

What did we do?
Leicestershire and Rutland CSP established a new local sports alliance framework to add value and agree local priorities for sport for all partners.

The alliance is guided by a strategic business plan and the appointment of a new CEO to deliver the change the county needs.

The new environment embraces a wide range of partners and an independent governance structure which the CSP points towards as a key factor of success—in particular it has streamlined reporting and decision-making processes.

A CSP service team was created through joint working with teams such as Sport Through Education which makes better use of economies of scale while a process to evaluate partnership ‘value for money’ has been an important step in building CSP credibility and future growth.

What were the results?

• By April 2005, Local Sports Alliances will be in place in nine districts
  
• The Community Sports Coaches scheme has seen four full-time and 13 part-time coaches recruited who have now commenced induction
  
• ARace Equality Through Sport officer has been recruited to support planning in relation to building in equity issues
  
• A communications officer has been seconded from partner Melton Borough Council
  
• An Invest to Save bid has been prepared in conjunction with Lincolnshire CSP to drive continuous improvement in the network
  
• A shadow board has been established under the guidance of the new CEO