Club Network Events

August 2024 Bitesize How can we better support Mental Health and Well-being in Sport

Our bitesize event saw a good number of clubs coming together to shine a light on mental health and well-being in sport supported by Blackburn United Community Sports Club who shared their various approaches to meet community need. 

You can find copies of the presentations here August 2024 Club Network Bitesize Mental Health Presentation [1MB]  and BUCSC August 2024 Mental Health and Well-being Presentation [4MB]

• March 2024 - Coaching and Volunteering Workforce

Our most recent club network gathering was an 'in person' event, with the spotlight again on coaches and volunteers and the recruitment, retention and development of this workforce.

A copy of the presentation from the evening can be found here  Club Network Presentation March 2024 [2MB]

Session 5: March 2022 - Coaching and Volunteering Workforce

Our most recent virtual club network event focused on the support of the coach and volunteer workforce, with Bathgate Thistle Community Football Club presenting on their challenges and successes in this area over the past two years.

Here [1MB]  is a copy of the presentation from the evening, and to view the Active Schools & Community Sport Coach & Volunteer Workforce Framework which was also presented on and discussed click here [539KB] . sportscotland's support package around coaching and volunteering as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic was also shared and can be viewed here [223KB] .

Session 4: September 2021 - An Introduction to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Presentations were delivered by Bathgate Amateur Swimming Club and Swim-IT on supporting specific populations in West Lothian. A copy of the full presentation from the evening can be found here  Sport in West Lothian: An Introduction to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion [1MB] .

We also introduced the 'Inclusion Continuum' tool which we can send to you and provide support for you to use with your committee or select working group. Please contact your dedicated Community Sport Coordinator to receive a working copy of this resource or email activewl@westlothian.gov.uk (opens new window).

Context from a national perspective was also provided and we advise that you visit the 'Equality, Diversity & Inclusion' sections on sportscotland's website. Links below will take you to the strategic overview and the research that was carried out in 2020.

• sportscotland - Sport for Life and our approach to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (opens new window)
• New Ideas - Our equality outcomes and research (opens new window)

Session 3: March 2021 - Introduction to Mental Health and Sport

National and Local context

In February of this year MSPs voted to declare that Scotland is facing a mental health crisis, and charities called for a "radical new plan" to safeguard the emotional wellbeing of the nation in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

Locally in terms of sport we asked you (the clubs) to complete a range of different surveys for us and the feedback from those showed that your number one priority was the wellbeing of your members and volunteers.

Nationally sportscotland have a partnership with SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) and we as professional officers have been supported and guided by that National partnership through the provision of training and resources. As a next step in our service continuing this focus around mental health in Sport we have established a local partnership with S.M.I.L.E who provided the main content for the evening.

Partnership with S.M.I.L.E

The scope of this partnership is still being developed but at the moment but we are aiming to have a mutually beneficial partnership whereby S.M.I.L.E will become a training provider and advisor for the Active Schools and Community Sport Service.

Some ongoing work at the moment is the development a new section of the club accreditation scheme specifically for Mental health including developing a mental health club role and some other key tangible outcomes using expertise from S.M.I.L.E. We also want to share information with S.M.I.L.E related to our accredited clubs who would provide a suitable environment (with support) for the young people accessing their services to engage with sport or physical activity.

Initially we would like to pilot this introductory workshop and then we will send out our usual follow up evaluations to gauge the interest in further training opportunities and the potential of adding mental health to our current CPD provision which runs throughout the year. Declan will cover other training that is available locally and we will also be sharing further relevant links with you all after this evening.

This is just the beginning of a journey into the ways in which sport goes beyond just the technical and tactical and how you all as officers, coaches and volunteers can impact upon the lives of the communities that you live and provide your sport in.

Mental health and Wellbeing_Useful Website Links [80KB]

SAMH 5 Ways to Wellbeing [795KB]

S.M.I.L.E Introduction to Mental Health and Sport [1012KB]

Please click on the links below to find out more:

Session 2: October 2020 - Knowing Your Funders 

Presentation, including the full Q&A session with Colin McMillan from Firstport Knowing Your Funders [5MB]  and a video to help with funding applications

Session 1: July 2020 - Sport in West Lothian 

The Road to Recovery presentation Sport in West Lothian - The Road to Recovery [459KB]