Sports Community, which has become a part of the Belgravia Group, and Belgravia Leisure have united with a common goal of providing sporting club volunteers and organisations with all the required resources, training and knowledge to succeed.
Recent Sport Australia data found a staggering 2.2 million (71%) volunteers had not returned to sport in the same capacity post COVID-19. Volunteers hold approximately 72% of roles in sport and recreation; the significant downturn in volunteer participation has had, and will continue to have, negative repercussions on sport in 2021.
Sports Community, which has been supporting volunteers, clubs and professionals since 2013, is now backed by Belgravia Leisure’s nationwide geographical footprint and a workforce of over 5,500 staff.
Steve Pallas, founder and CEO of Sports Community, will continue in his role to lead and drive the organisation under the Belgravia Group banner. The combination of Steve’s passion for supporting volunteers and Belgravia’s significant investment towards the growth of Sports Community will see a compelling increase in the support and resources that Sports Community can provide.
“COVID-19 had a huge impact on sports in Australia. A majority of volunteers have been unable to return in their original capacity and we have seen a number of clubs severely under-resourced as a result. A partnership with Belgravia Leisure will provide Sports Community with the resources to support these volunteers and the sporting industry to enable them to assist the local sports clubs so that they can rebuild in 2021 and beyond.”
Steve is driven by his passion to make it as easy as possible for every volunteer in an Australian club to undertake their role, regardless of the club, location or function. Speaking from his experience as a young 20-year-old university student who was secretary of his local cricket club and “the worst club administrator ever”, Steve saw the importance in providing club volunteers with the tools to succeed – the tools that he wishes he had when he was cricket club secretary.
Sports Community works with sporting clubs of all sizes and locations, with the mantra that “Every volunteer can be successful given the right resources and information”. The Springbank Football and Netball Club is an example of a local sporting club that benefited from Sports Community’s training and expertise, “As a club with a new President and secretary, access to Sports Community, its staff, online training and resources provided us with everything we needed to be successful, and we are proud to say we’re looking forward to an even bigger and better 2021,” said Club President Paddy O’Neill.
Apart from providing volunteers with all the necessary tools to effectively support their clubs, Sports Community also provides resources, training and knowledge to sport peak bodies, local Councils, Universities, State and Federal government agencies to empower volunteers and their clubs to achieve amazing results.
Sports Community assists sporting clubs and organisations by providing:
- Training webinars
- Live workshops
- Sports consulting
- Podcasts
- Facilitating connections and relationships
- Grant support
- Fundraising support
- Sponsorship support
About Belgravia Leisure
Formed in 1990, Belgravia Leisure is passionate about connecting communities to leisure. Working in partnership with Government, not-for profit and the commercial sector, Belgravia Leisure has a strong track record of delivering diverse, accessible and affordable health and wellness services across Australia and New Zealand.
Currently partnering with more than 50 Local and State Government authorities, Belgravia Leisure adopts an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable approach to operations across all its sites, with a focus on healthy communities today and in the future.
Belgravia Leisure employs more than 5,000 staff in 180+ swim, sports, fitness, health and wellness and leisure facilities, and is part of Australian company, Belgravia Group, which also owns Genesis Fitness Clubs, Coaching Zone and Ninja Parc.
Partnership EnquiriesSteve Pallas | Media EnquiriesJuliet Woodward |
