Engagement ToolkitStrategy and Future Funding
IntroductionPeople involved in delivering activity on the ground at clubs and centres are at the heart of boating in the UK. The RYA wants to identify how we can support what you are planning to do in the future.
The RYA is committed to running programmes that drive demand and regular participation on the water.
Now is a good time to listen and engage and find out about: the issues that are important to clubs and centres and any barriers that exist achievements in recent years and the challenges that remain what is going to influence participation on the water in the future
The RYA is two years into strategic and regional plans, and at the half way point of investment support from UK Sport, Sport England, sportscotland, Sport Wales and Sport Northern Ireland. By late 2020 new funding proposals will be submitted.
This toolkit is designed to capture conversations about the future. It gathers your views, your successes, what you have learnt and the challenges you face going forwards.
This is your opportunity to influence future RYA funding bids, strategies and plans.
It is flexible and can be used if you just have 30 minutes during a committee meeting to have a discussion, or you want to schedule a longer workshop. It’s up to you.
There are some instructions for each question or task, and the worksheets you need to capture your views.
If you have already had similar discussions or developed strategies for the long term please share these and don’t feel you have to repeat the exercise.
The separate insight and data document can be shared with participants to frame your discussions.
Some pages are left purposefully blank to ensure worksheets can be printed.
There are lots of ways of sending us your views – an online form, or the worksheets in this toolkit can be photographed and emailed to us.
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ContentsIntroduction.......................................................................................................................2
Facilitating the discussions.................................................................................................4
Before...................................................................................................................................4
During................................................................................................................................... 4
2 hour workshop................................................................................................................5
Introduction..........................................................................................................................5
Current situation...................................................................................................................6
Task: Successes and Challenges.......................................................................................6
The Environment we operate in.........................................................................................10
Task: PESTLES..................................................................................................................10
PESTLES Framework........................................................................................................11
SWOT..................................................................................................................................14
Task: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats..............................................14
Vision and future priorities.................................................................................................19
Task: Biggest problem still to solve.................................................................................19
Task: Future state............................................................................................................25
Are there any other principles or statements you think should be important to the RYA OnBoard Programme going forwards?...............................................................................25
Task: Resources...............................................................................................................29
Anything else......................................................................................................................33
Task: Anything else......................................................................................................... 33
After the workshop / discussion.......................................................................................35
Task: After the workshop................................................................................................35
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Facilitating the discussions
BeforeThe timings for the 2 hour workshop are a guide. You may want to allow longer – the idea is that if you only have a short slot during a committee meeting there is a slimmed down version of the questions, if you have longer to consider it then set some time aside for a workshop.
You don’t have to complete all the questions / tasks – pick the ones you feel are most relevant to you or where you think you have most to say.
DuringGive a clear introduction to why the discussion is taking place
Tell participants what is going to happen to their ideas and views
Encourage turn taking – the importance of listening and speaking in turn, making sure everyone is able to be heard and all views are considered / captured
Encourage people who can digest, understand and emphasise with other people’s ideas rather than only think about their own
Where it is suggested you break into groups think about the ideal size. Too small and discussion might be stilted, too large and some might not be able to contribute. Between 3 and 6 people per group is a good guide.
No idea is a bad idea, capture everything.
Decide how you are going to capture ideas:
Someone can type into the worksheets as you go You can print the worksheets out and write your answers in them Come up with your own worksheets
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2 hour workshop
The following questions could be covered in a workshop of around 2 hours.
IntroductionPeople involved in delivering activity on the ground at clubs and centres are at the heart of boating in the UK. The RYA wants to identify how as a Governing Body they can support what we are doing now and what we are planning to do in the future.
The RYA is committed to running programmes that drive demand and regular participation on the water.
The RYA is two years into strategic and regional plans, and at the half way point of investment support from UK Sport, Sport England, sportscotland, Sport Wales and Sport Northern Ireland. By late 2020 new funding proposals will be submitted.
Now is a good time to listen and engage about the long term future.
Over the next 2 hours we are going to explore: Our successes and challenges we have face The environment we operate in A Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats analysis The biggest problem we need to solve going forwards and the support required How we think the RYA should behave in the future and the principles that should
guide its decisions and actions? Future priorities – what we need to do more of, what we need to stop doing.
AgendaCurrent situation 15 minutesThe environment 30 minutesSWOT 25 minutesFuture priorities 35minutesAnything else 5 minutes
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Current situationTask: Successes and Challenges
Time: 15 minutes
Introduction: As we look to the future it is important to critically analyse our collective achievements and capture what we have learnt.
Let’s reflect on the successes we have enjoyed and the challenges that remain for both our club, but also the RYA OnBoard programme.
A suggested methodSplit into an even number of groups. One half considers questions about your club, centre or organisation, the other half considers questions about the RYA OnBoard programme. Both groups record their answers. After 10minutes, swap your answers, look at the one of the other group’s response and add anything you think is missing. Spend no more than 5 mins on this part.
Questions: your club / centre / organisation1. Do you feel in a better position than three years ago? Pick from the options below.
Yes, we made significant changes and its making a real impact | We've always been strong | In some ways, but we have new challenges | No, not really but we are surviving | Definitely not. We have significant challenges that we didn't three years ago
2. What have been your biggest successes in the last 3 years?3. What challenges do you still face?
Questions: The RYA OnBoard Programme1. Do you feel the RYA OnBoard Programme is in a better position than three years
ago?Yes, there have been significant changes and its making a real impact | It’s always been strong | In some ways, but there are new challenges | No, not really but its surviving | Definitely not. There are significant challenges that weren’t there three years ago
2. What have been the RYA OnBoard Programme’s biggest success in the last three years?
3. What challenges do you think the RYA OnBoard Programme still needs to address?
Resources: Current situation task sheet
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Task: Current situation: Your club / centre / organisationQuestion Answer1. Do you feel in a
better position than three years ago?
(please circle from the options)
Yes, we made significant changes and they are making a real impact
We've always been strong
In some ways, but we have new challenges
No, not really but we are surviving
Definitely not. We have significant challenges that we didn't three years ago
2. What have been your biggest successes in the last 3 years?
3. What challenges do you still face?
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Task: Current situation RYA OnBoard programmeQuestion Answer1. Do you feel the RYA
OnBoard Programme is in a better position than three years ago?
(please circle from the options)
Yes, they’ve made significant changes and they are making a real impact
They've always been strong
In some ways, but they have new challenges
No, not really but they are surviving
Definitely not. They have significant challenges that we didn't three years ago
2. What have been the RYA OnBoard Programme’s biggest success in the last three years?
3. What challenges do you think the RYA OnBoard Programme still needs to address?
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The Environment we operate inTask: PESTLES
Time: 30 minutes
Introduction: What got us here might not get us where we want to get to. We need to think about the major trends and anticipated changes that will affect clubs, centres and the RYA in the future. The trends and changes might have a positive or negative impact and they might be something we are ready for, or not ready to respond to.
PESTLES is a framework to analyse the key factors influencing an organisation. It is used to scan what is going on in the world around them and think about the impact this might have on what they want to achieve. The outcomes can be used as part of strategy design.
Suggested method 1. In groups of 4-5 people. On post it notes, with one post it note per factor, capture
the major trends and anticipated changes that are going to impact on clubs, centres, and the RYA in the future
2. Have on the wall 7 pieces of flipchart paper or A3 paper. Each piece of paper will be headed with one of the categories from the PESTLES framework. Add your post it notes to the relevant piece of paper
3. Spend a few minutes looking at all the trends and anticipated changes that have been put up, collating those that are the same or similar.
4. Back in your groups of 4-5 people. Choose between 3 and 5 trends / changes that you think are particularly important.
5. Discuss each trend / change in turn, considering:a. So what – how will this affect us going forwards, what the opportunities this
trend offers, or the risks if we ignore itb. Whether it could have a positive or negative impactc. Whether you consider you are ready / not ready to respond to the trend /
change6. Complete the template7. Put the templates on the wall or table and look at the other group’s answers, adding
any reflections as you do.
Factor So what – how will this affect us going forwards
PESTLES Category
Positive / Negative
Ready / Not Ready
1.
2.
3.
Resources: PESTLES task sheet, PESTLES hand-out
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PESTLES Framework
PESTLES is a framework to analyse the key factors influencing an organisation. It helps organisations scan what is going on in the world around them and think about the impact this might have on what they want to achieve. The outcomes from the exercise can be used as part of strategy design. Some examples are given below.
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Political
Government, National Governing Body and other marine industry bodies’ policy, strategy and funding;
developments in other sectors e.g. health and social care, education
Economic
funding to local services, funding for facilities
staff and energy costs
austerity and the backdrop it creates for people to increase engagement
Societal
population demographics;
health of the nation;
culture and lifestyles across the generations;
fashion and trends
Technological
ways of communicating and emerging social media
technology and its impact on physical activity e.g. wearable tech
Legal
Safeguarding, Equality, Data protection
Duty of Care, Health and Safety
Marine related regulations and standards
Environment
environmental impacts of sailing and boating;
water levels and quality of water;
access to water
Sporting
new formats
participation trends
racing pathways and opportuntities
policies and rules
Task: PESTLES
Factor So what – how will this affect us going forwards?
PESTLES Category
Positive / Negative
Ready / Not Ready
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SWOT Task: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats
Time: 25 minutes
Introduction: Think about the strengths as a club | centre | group we have and the opportunities this creates but also our weaknesses and the threats this poses. What advantages do we have? What do we do better than others? What resources do we have that others don't? What is our unique selling point? What are our best characteristics? Thinks also about the weaknesses we have, what we could do to improve? What do other people see as our weaknesses? What leads us to lose members, boaters, volunteers, or staff? What causes our activity to go off track? Externally, what opportunities are out there for what we are good at to give us a real advantage? What threats do we need to consider and how can we minimise any risk?
Suggested method Split into an even number of groups. Minimum 3-4 people per group. Half of the groups consider your own club / centre / organisation. The other half consider the RYA OnBoard programme.
Each group does a SWOT analysis. You can use the templates in the resource section, flipchart and post its or another method of your choosing.
Whether you are looking at a strength, weakness, opportunity or threat, identify the attribute, and answer ‘so what’? Why is it a strength and what can we do about it?
RYA OnBoard ProgrammeInternal ExternalStrengths OpportunitiesWeaknesses Threats
Our club / centre / organisationInternal ExternalStrengths OpportunitiesWeaknesses Threats
Attribute So What Strength, weakness, opportunity or threat
Relates to RYA or our club / centre / organisation.
Resources: SWOT task sheets
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RYA OnBoard Programme- SWOT
Internal External
Strengths Opportunities
Weaknesses Threats
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Our club / centre / organisation – SWOT
Internal External
Strengths Opportunities
Weaknesses Threats
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Vision and future prioritiesTime: 35 minutes
Introduction: A shared vision for what we are collectively trying to achieve can help focus strategies and plans. Defining what we want to pursue and accomplish is important.
We are going to define the biggest problem we think we need to solve to help set out what we and the RYA could do in the future.
This is not an exercise to re-write our organisation’s or the RYA’s vision and mission, but it is a chance to identify a common purpose, the things that are important to us all, and a shared sense of direction?
We are also going to think about future priorities by looking at a) principles to guide decisions and actions, and b) ideas on how the RYA could allocate resources in the future
Suggested method
Task: Biggest problem still to solve
In pairs (or threes) consider the questions below about the RYA OnBoard Programme and your club / centre / organisation, writing down your answers. You have 10 minutes.
Each pair feeds back their answers to the whole group. 10 minutes.
RYA1. What is the biggest problem you think the RYA OnBoard Programme needs to solve
in the next 3/4/5 years? 2. What can your club / centre / organisation do to support the RYA OnBoard
Programme to solve this problem?
Your club / centre / organisation1. What is the biggest problem you need to or want to solve as an organisation in the
next 3/4/5 years?2. What can the RYA OnBoard Programme do to support your club / centre /
organisation to solve this problem?
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Task: Biggest problem still to solve
1. What is the biggest problem you need to or want to solve as an organisation in the next 3/4/5 years?
2. What can the RYA OnBoard Programme do to help you solve this problem?
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Task: Biggest problem still to solve
1. What is the biggest problem you think the RYA OnBoard Programme needs to solve in the next 3-4 years?
2. What can your club / centre / organisation do to support the RYA OnBoard Programme to solve this problem?
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Task: Future state
Now describe what the future RYA OnBoard Programme could be.
What could the future state of the RYA OnBoard Programme look like as we seek to increase junior club membership, participation levels and improve the experience of young sailors and windsurfers?
How should the RYA OnBoard Programme behave, what principles should guide its decisions and actions?
Consider each of the statements below and rank from 1 to 5, with 1 being the one you consider most important. You have 5 minutes.
Statement Rank
Develop the six key character attributes (confidence, communication, determination, creativity independence, teamwork) in young sailors through embedding these skills within OB sessionsBe learning led – continue to conduct relevant research to guide our decisions
Work collaboratively with partners to grow participation
Create demand to increase participation
Put sailors and volunteers first – increase training and development to support this
Are there any other principles or statements you think should be important to the RYA OnBoard Programme going forwards?
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Statement Rank
Develop the six key character attributes (confidence, communication, determination, creativity independence, teamwork) in young sailors through embedding these skills within OB sessions
Be learning led – continue to conduct relevant research to guide our decisions
Work collaboratively with partners to grow participation
Create demand to increase participation
Put sailors and volunteers first – increase training and development to support this
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Task: Resources
Help us think about how the RYA OnBoard Programme should allocate any resources it does have in the future?
In groups of 4-5 people. You have 10 minutes.
Imagine you are the OnBoard Operations Officer and that you have a fictitious £1000 budget. Allocate a portion of the funding to the broad areas of activity you think are important. We have suggested some below, but you can add new areas of activity at the bottom of the table. You can allocate all of the money just to one area of activity, or vary it from area to area. You can’t allocate more than £1,000. Allocate in increments of £50.
Area of activity Amount allocated
Demand creation through digital marketingDemand creation through eventsProduce instructor / volunteer and sailor resourcesRun instructor / volunteer training and development Increase the pool of OnBoard instructors Support OnBoard festivals and eventsRun award schemes for sailor and clubClub development support and advise through RYA staff Create partnerships with youth organisations to grow demand
Total £1000
Resources: Biggest problem task sheet; future state task sheet; resources task sheet
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Area of activity Amount allocated
Demand creation through digital marketing
Demand creation through events
Produce instructor / volunteer and sailor resources
Run instructor / volunteer training and development
Increase the pool of OnBoard instructors
Support OnBoard festivals and events
Run award schemes for sailor and club
Club development support and advise through RYA staff
Create partnerships with youth organisations to grow demand
Total £1000
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Anything elseTask: Anything else
Is there anything else you want to say about the RYA OnBoard Programme’s future plans and direction?
Anything else
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After the workshop / discussionTask: After the workshop
Collect all the completed sheets together and either:
1. Email the completed document to: [email protected]. Photograph them and send the images to [email protected]. Put them into the post: Ailsa Muskett, RYA House, Ensign Way, Southampton, SO31
4YA4. Complete the online form with your views
https://www.cognitoforms.com/RYA2/RYAStrategyAndFutureFundingEngagement
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