Community Engagement & Partnerships
Purpose of workshop
The Community Engagement and Partnership Workshop aims to provide rugby clubs with techniques for strengthening community relationships, nurturing inclusion, and establishing partnerships. By increasing participation, clubs may become lively community hubs, attract diverse memberships, and establish long-term ties that benefit both the club and the surrounding area.
Goals of the session
• Understand the importance of community engagement Identify key community stakeholders and partners.
• Develop skills to plan and execute community-focused events and initiatives.
• Learn from successful examples from other clubs.
• Create a tailored community engagement and partnership strategy for your club.
Intro/Icebreaker – The warm-up
• Stand in a circle
• Each person will have a post it on their back
• Free to walk around and ask each other questions (closed Yes/No)
• Find your pair
Famous partnerships
Agenda
1. Why community engagement matters
2. Effective strategies for community engagement
3. Promoting inclusivity in rugby and engaging the youth
4. Building strong sustainable partnerships
5. Overcoming engagement challenges
6. Measuring success
7. Developing a plan and measuring community engagement success
Why community engagement matters?
Community engagement is important because it can lead to people working with your club to improve our offering and make the community better for everybody.
The important values are:
• Effective – it meets the needs and hopes of the people involved
• Efficient – it is well organised and planned
• Fair – it supports people to take part including people who are socially excluded
Social exclusion is when some groups of people find it harder to access services because of things like their age, disability, race or where they live.
5 minutes
Discussion on what community engagement means to your club
Group discussion
Community Engagement is…the process of working collaboratively with and through groups of people affiliated by geographic proximity, special interest, or similar situations to address issues affecting the well-being of those people. It is a powerful vehicle for bringing about environmental and behavioral changes that will improve the health of the community and its members. It often involves partnerships and coalitions that help mobilise resources and influence systems, change relationships among partners, and serve as catalysts for changing policies, programs, and practices (CDC, 1997).
Benefits of good community engagement
Stronger community relationships Increased participation Better decision making
Enhanced reputation
Resource sharing
Social and economic benefits Improved inclusivity
Conflict reduction Sustainable growth Empowered communities
10 minutes
Promoting inclusivity in rugby and engaging the youth
Scenario
Your club wants to promote inclusivity and youth. You’ve organised a ‘Rugby for all’ open day featuring inclusive rugby activities and discussions.
Group discussion
• Highlight challenges of promoting inclusivity in rugby
•Discuss ideas to engage underrepresented groups (e.g., women, non-binary youth, kids with ASN)
•Build a collaborative plan to attract diverse youth participation
Building
success partnerships
Scenario
10 minutes
Your club wants to build successful partnerships with local businesses, schools and community groups. The has invited key stakeholders to a partnership brainstorming meeting.
Group discussion
• How would you identify potential areas for collaboration between the club and stakeholders
• Discuss addressing concerns that any incitive is not mutually beneficial
•How would you formalise a partnership and maintain relationships long term
The second half
Discussion on overcoming challenges
Group discussion (one question per group)
1. What are the main challenges your club faces in maintaining trust and engagement with current stakeholders?
2. How can clear communication and regular feedback improve long-term stakeholder relationships?
3. What innovative approaches can be used to identify and connect with new stakeholders who align with your goals?
4. How do you ensure that the needs and expectations of both existing and new stakeholders are met without compromising resources or priorities?
Measuring success
A rugby club can measure the success of its community engagement and partnerships by focusing on both qualitative and quantitative metrics.
Quantitative
Qualitative
Measuring success
Scenario
The club committee conducted a member survey to assess the club’s success and identify areas for improvement. The survey revealed conflicting priorities: members want more investment in grassroots development, but the committee favors upgrading the clubhouse to attract sponsors. The meeting has been called to discuss the survey results and next steps.
10 minutes
Group discussion
•Discuss the survey results and identify the main points of conflict.
•Debate the pros and cons of each perspective (grassroots vs. clubhouse upgrades)
•Develop a compromise or action plan to address the conflicting priorities.
Developing a community engagement and partnership plan
The National Standards for Community Engagement
are good-practice principles designed to support and inform the process of community engagement, and improve what happens as a result
• shared decision making - making plans, choices and decisions together
• shared action - working together to achieve goals
• support for community led action - people in the community controlling the actions that achieve these goals
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10 minutes
Developing a community engagement and partnership plan
Establish Clear Objectives
The first step is to define the objectives of the engagement plan. For rugby clubs, these could include increasing membership, promoting inclusivity, strengthening local support, and fostering youth development. Clear objectives ensure the club stays focused on measurable outcomes.
Understand the Community
Understanding the community is crucial. Clubs should identify key demographics, local needs, and potential partners, such as schools, businesses, and local authorities. Engaging diverse groups—young people, underrepresented minorities, and families—can create a stronger and more diverse supporter base.
Design the Approach
Using the Seven National Standards rugby clubs can tailor their engagement strategies. This may include hosting open days, organising rugby clinics, and creating partnerships with local schools and businesses. Ensuring open lines of communication, feedback mechanisms, and a transparent process helps build trust and long-term relationships
Full time
Top 10 Tips for good community engagement and partnerships
Understand Local Needs
Conduct surveys or host community forums to learn about the specific needs and interests of the local population. Tailor activities to address these priorities.
Promote Inclusivity
Ensure programs are accessible to all, including women, people with disabilities, and underrepresented groups.
Consider mixed-gender touch rugby or adaptive rugby initiatives.
Collaborate with Local Schools
Partner with schools to introduce rugby through after-school programs, PE classes, and youth leagues, fostering early interest in the sport.
Engage Local Businesses
Build relationships with local companies to secure sponsorships, offer joint promotions, or co-host events, benefiting both the club and the business community.
Host Community Events
Organise open days, family fun days, or charity matches to bring people together and showcase the club’s welcoming environment.
Leverage Social Media and Technology
Use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to share updates, events, and stories, creating an interactive digital presence for the club.
Foster Volunteerism
Encourage community members to volunteer in various roles, from coaching to event management, giving them a stake in the club’s success.
Support Broader Community Goals
Align with local causes such as mental health awareness, anti-bullying campaigns, or environmental initiatives, showing that the club cares about more than just rugby.
Offer Affordable Membership Options
Provide flexible pricing for memberships and programs to ensure affordability, especially for families or those facing financial hardship.
Celebrate Success Stories
Share the achievements of players, teams, and volunteers to highlight the positive impact of the club on the community, inspiring further engagement and support.
Going Forwards
Within 2 days:
• “Within the next 2 days, I will…
Within 2 Weeks:
• “Within the next 2 weeks, I will…
Within 2 Months:
• “Within the next 2 months, I will…
Name: x Email: x Number: x