Citizen Gathering – Sport – 12th February 2025

17 Feb Citizen Gathering – Sport – 12th February 2025

Citizen Gathering – 12th February 2025

Tanya Sargeant, Chair of the St Neots Sports Collective, opened the evening with a powerful statement: “If we don’t act now, and together, I worry about what the future holds for some of our clubs. We need to find a way to get sports working collaboratively.”

Alex Hughes, Acting Chair of the St Neots Initiative, followed by reinforcing the importance of this work. “St Neots Initiative has been an independent convener and supporter of all things socio-economic in St Neots for almost three decades. It is our privilege to continue this work, and we thank our partners at the Citizen Hub for hosting and providing an inclusive space where all voices can be heard.”

On the 12th of February 2025, the Citizen Hub welcomed a diverse group of sports leaders, citizens, representatives from Huntingdonshire District Council, and colleagues from Urban & Civic to explore how sport can become a driving force for health, social, skills, and economic benefits across the town. The gathering provided an opportunity to understand the current landscape of sport in St Neots and, more importantly, to identify ways in which greater collaboration and infrastructure development could support long-term sustainability.

Tanya Sargeant set the scene by outlining the journey of the St Neots Sports Collective, reflecting on the progress made so far while acknowledging the significant challenges that remain. The lack of strategic coordination across local sports has led to many clubs struggling with visibility, resources, and long-term planning. Without a more joined-up approach, the full potential of sport as a unifying and transformative force for the town cannot be realised.

The evening’s guest speaker, Xavier Wiggins, delivered an inspiring talk on the power of sport in driving social change. He shared compelling case studies, including the work of Sport Local Action’s Sports Bank initiative, which partners with businesses and national sports bodies to ensure that young people have access to essential sports equipment and funding. He also spoke about the AFC Wimbledon community ownership model, which holds the record for the highest amount ever raised through a community bond for a sports club. The stories he shared highlighted the potential for grassroots movements to achieve extraordinary results when communities rally behind a shared vision. His insights into volunteer engagement and fostering stronger connections between businesses and sports clubs set the tone for the wider discussions that followed.

The second half of the session moved into a collaborative co-design workshop, where participants worked together on five priority areas identified at the previous Sports Collective meeting. One group focused on creating a comprehensive sports directory for St Neots, successfully mapping around eighty percent of the sports clubs in the town along with their key contacts. This work lays the foundation for a centralised sports directory, which will be launched in the coming weeks to ensure that clubs are connected and aware of the support available to them.

A second group explored what future sports infrastructure could look like and how existing assets could be adapted to meet the town’s needs in the short term. A lively discussion followed, raising key questions about responsibility for planning and strategy. Participants debated whose role it was to identify the needs of citizens and clubs and whether a clear, strategic vision for sport currently exists at a local government level. The conversation also highlighted the need to establish a clear understanding of land ownership and availability for sporting development. With agreement that further discussions will take place to map out the existing landscape and identify gaps in provision.

The third group focused on the development of a dedicated landing page for the St Neots Sports Collective, which will serve as a central hub for communication, engagement, and advocacy. The discussion centred around the key messages the collective wants to convey, both to local clubs and to national organisations that may be able to support its growth. Participants discussed how data could be used to demonstrate the value of sport in the town, as well as the importance of showcasing existing partnerships to attract further collaboration. A draft version of the landing page will be reviewed at the next Sports Collective meeting, ensuring that it aligns with the collective’s vision and objectives.

Another group worked on plans for a town-wide multi-sport day, designed to increase awareness, boost participation, and celebrate the role of sport in the community. The focus of this discussion was on ensuring that the event encourages collaboration between clubs, raises awareness of volunteering opportunities, and creates new pathways for engagement. There was a particular emphasis on working with local businesses to connect sports clubs with corporate volunteer schemes. With only twelve percent of corporate volunteer hours currently being utilised across the UK, this presents a major opportunity for St Neots to tap into an underused resource. Urban & Civic, who have previously hosted successful Sport & Wellbeing Days at Wintringham, expressed their interest in partnering on a similar initiative in the wider St Neots. The next Sports Collective meeting will finalise the ask of St Neots Initiative management, determining how best to maximise its impact if this was to be a pursuit.

The final group turned its attention to the relationship between sport and education, considering how stronger links between schools and sports clubs could provide greater opportunities for young people. At present, engagement between secondary schools and community sports clubs is inconsistent, often limited to facility hire rather than meaningful collaboration. The discussion highlighted the importance of integrating sport into primary education as a way of fostering social mobility, mental health, and community belonging from an early age. There was a consensus that getting parents more involved through schools would be key to increasing youth participation in local sports clubs. In addition to young people, the conversation also explored how adult education and professional development could be linked to sports initiatives, with ideas emerging around skill-sharing events and workshops. Ultimately, ensuring that schools see sport as an integral part of personal development—backed up by data on mental health, social impact, and academic performance—will be a crucial next step.

This gathering demonstrated the power of bringing the right people together to drive real change. In less than two hours, participants worked collaboratively to identify tangible steps forward and reinforce the need for a more coordinated approach to sports development in St Neots. The passion, expertise, and willingness to take action in the room highlighted just how essential sport is to the town’s identity and future.

The St Neots Initiative is committed to supporting Tanya Sargeant, the St Neots Sports Collective, and all those working to improve access to sport in the town. The next phase of this work will involve following up on the outcomes of this session, ensuring that the momentum generated translates into lasting progress.

We have distilled and confirmed our recommendations following this gathering that we will make to the key parties present.

St Neots Initiative (SNI) & Sports Collective

1. Landing Page with Vision
   • Develop a clear and engaging landing page that outlines the vision for sport in St Neots.
   • Ensure it includes a call to action for sports clubs, businesses, and funders to engage with the initiative.
   • Use case studies or testimonials from local clubs to highlight the impact of collaboration.
2. Sports Directory with Key Information
   • Finalise the sports directory with essential details, including club names, contact information, and available facilities.
   • Ensure it is easily accessible and regularly updated.
   • Consider an interactive online directory with filters for different sports and age groups.
3. Communications Strategy with a Clear CTA
   • Define a consistent message about why collaboration in sport is essential.
   • Use social media, newsletters, and in-person events to drive engagement.
   • Ensure all outreach includes a clear call to action, whether it’s signing up for the directory, attending meetings, or supporting infrastructure plans.
4. Action for the Working Group (Multi-Sport Day)
   • Assign responsibilities within the Sports Collective to progress planning.
   • Identify potential funding sources and sponsors to support the event.
   • Secure commitments from clubs, schools, and local businesses to participate.
5. Follow-Up with Survey & Gathering Invite
   • Send a post-event survey to gather additional insights from sports leaders and citizens.
   • Include an invite to the next gathering, ensuring continued momentum and participation.

Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC)

1. 1-2-1s with Sports Leaders
   • Schedule individual meetings with key sports leaders to understand their challenges and needs.
   • Use these insights to inform future funding, policy, and infrastructure planning.
2. Request a Public Statement
   • Ask HDC to issue a formal statement on its commitment to sport in St Neots and feedback following their time with our community.

Urban & Civic (U&C)

1. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sports Collective
   • Establish a clear agreement on collaboration, planning, and shared goals for sports development.
   • Ensure alignment between infrastructure projects and community needs.
2. Push for Maximum Impact Facilities
   • Advocate for the highest-quality sports infrastructure within U&C developments that serve the widest range of sport possible in those plans.
   • Ensure that community access and long-term sustainability are prioritised.

Local Education Sector

1. Strengthen Collaboration with Schools
   • Develop a framework for engagement between schools and sports clubs.
   • Explore ways to integrate sports participation into school activities.
2. Adopt the Sports Directory for Parents & Students
   • Ensure the sports directory is shared as a resource for parents and students.
   • Work with schools to promote local sports clubs through newsletters, events, and PE programs.

Sport Clubs

1. Engage with St Neots Initiative & the Sports Collective
2. Continue to collaborate with other sports leaders locally

For those who want to get involved, free membership of the St Neots Sports Collective is open to anyone who is part of a local sports club. To register your interest and receive an invitation to the next meeting, contact sport@stneotsinitiative.org.uk.

We extend our thanks to Huntingdonshire District Council for contributing to funding this year’s Citizen Gatherings and to all the colleagues and community leaders who attended. The work that began in this session will continue in the coming weeks and months, delivering both immediate benefits and laying the groundwork for a sustainable future for sport in St Neots.