UK Sport Development Network Conference September '24

Future-proof: reimagining tomorrow’s inclusive sport and physical activity sector.

Be part of the discussions looking to redefine coaching and leadership practices. Empower underserved communities, embrace technology and harness the transformative power of education and debate the crucial subject of sustainability.

Are you a sport practitioner aiming to break barriers in sport?

We're calling on anyone and everyone, in or around the sector to be part of this vital journey and contribute to critical discussions shaping the future of our sector. If you are committed to exploring how we can break down barriers and create welcoming spaces for all individuals to thrive in sport, physical activity, and wellness – this is the conference for you!

What is the purpose of this conference?

Our conference aims to address several key issues and opportunities within the sport, physical activity, and wellness:

Breaking down barriers:  identifying and discussing the barriers that prevent individuals from participating fully in sports, physical activities, and wellness programs. These barriers could be social, economic, cultural, or physical. The goal is to find ways to eliminate or mitigate these barriers to make these spaces more inclusive and accessible to everyone.

Creating welcoming spaces: not just physical spaces but also the culture within these spaces. The event aims to discuss how we can foster an environment where everyone feels welcome, valued, and safe to participate regardless of their background, identity, or ability level.

Redefining coaching and leadership practices: looking into challenging traditional coaching and leadership methods and exploring new, more inclusive, and effective approaches. Such as training coaches and leaders in diversity and inclusion, mental health awareness, and adaptive coaching techniques.

Empowering underserved communities: focusing on providing resources, support, and opportunities to communities that have historically been marginalised or overlooked in the sports and wellness sectors.

Embracing technology and innovation: exploring how technology and innovation can enhance participation, accessibility, and performance in sports and wellness.

Harnessing the power of education: making education a tool for empowerment and change. The event will likely discuss ways to educate athletes, coaches, and the broader community about issues such as nutrition, injury prevention, mental health, and the importance of physical activity.

Debating sustainability: with growing concerns about the environmental impact of sports events and facilities, it's important to address how to make the sports and wellness sectors more sustainable.

Who you can expect to hear from?

You can expect a collaborative exchange of research, knowledge and practice aimed at guiding our industry into a more inclusive and vibrant future. The conference will feature a stellar line up of guest speakers from industry and academia to get the discussions flowing:

Colin Huffen - Associate Director of Public and Professional Services, CIMSPA

Dr Abby Barras - University of Brighton

Shruti Saujani- Equality, Inclusion and Diversity Lead, FA Education

Professor Hayley Fitzgerald - Leeds Beckett University

Martino Corazza - CEO, International Mixed Ability Sport

Michelle McGill - Equality Diversity and Inclusion Lead, England Golf

Booking Information

UKSDN conferences are known for their affordability with different price points available. Moreover their conferences serve as a catalyst for knowledge exchange and future collaborations between industry and academia.

To register for this event, please go to Online Store

This is subject to availability, please keep checking back for further updates and full details of the event will be posted here.

Want to submit an abstract?

If you are a practitioner or academic wanting to be part of our event series, share your knowledge, lived experiences and research, you can submit an abstract that align with our 6 sub themes:

1. The Role of Inclusive Spaces for Sport, Physical Activity, and Wellness

2. The Role of Inclusive Coaching and Leadership Practice

3. The Role of Community Sport, Physical Activity and Wellness for Underserved Communities

4. The Role of Technology and Innovation

5. The Role of the Education Sector (schools, FE and HE)

6. The Role of Sport, Physical Activity, Wellness and Sustainability

To submit your abstract, please complete the following form: Request for Submission

All presenters need to be booked onto the conference by Friday 28th June 2024 or the presentation slot will be reallocated to another speaker

Timetable to be shared closer to the date.