The ACTIVE Network project has identified partnerships between municipalities and sport organisations to be of such critical value – and yet often very challenging and demanding – that it is beneficial to create a European network for such partnerships to flourish. The project's 15 partnerships have focused on how each respective partner can use their competencies to deliver and promote sport for all initiatives to local citizens. Over the course of the project they have compiled this knowledge, gathered best practice examples and implemented learning and exchange events throughout Europe.

The project is nearing its conclusion, but there will be plenty of interaction between the partners within and across national borders before the closing conference in Birmingham, UK, from 12-14 June. Find out more below about the two Multilateral Exchanges and eight Twinning Meetings taking place over the next four months.

Multilateral Exchange: Cross-sector cooperation in grassroots sport

Hamilton, Scotland 7-9 March 2014 

While partnerships between municipalities and sport organisations are in focus, it does not in any way exclude the importance of (further) cross-sector collaboration. The good practices documented by the project partners describe different sectors' and actors' involvement and innovative partnerships reaching out to non-traditional partners. A combination of all of these actors help to develop the sport organisations' capacities to transform and adapt sport offers to new target groups.

The third ACTIVE Network Multilateral Exchange will be hosted by South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture and Clyesdale Sports Council from 7-9 March 2014 in Hamilton, Scotland.

The ACTIVE Network Multilateral Exchange in Scotland will show how innovative approaches to partnerships in sport and physical activity can be spread to other localities in a particular country.

Multilateral Exchange: Sport and Tourism

Castellon, Spain, 16-18 May 2014

Tourism as a key sector for economic development is a fast-growing and labour-intensive industry that involves many activities. Sport organisations and municipalities play an important role in the development of a country’s tourism, the local and national vision guiding how it presents itself and its promotion of different sectors. Given sport’s social and economic impact and the vulnerability of many sectors, sustainability should be a main objective of tourism development.

The fourth ACTIVE Network Multilateral Exchange will be hosted by City of Castello and MiM Peñagolosa from 15-17 May 2014 in Castellon in Spain.

Twinning meetings:

The sport organisations in the project, as national associations, have a specific role to foster well-functioning partnerships between themselves and local authorities in order to spread good practices to other localities in their country. These domestic knowledge sharing events are called Twinning Meetings. ACTIVE Network will facilitate eight Twinning Meetings from February to May.

• Sport organisations and municipalities build together sport and culture in the local area, 21-22 February 2014, Dusetos and Zarasai, Lithuania

• Special sport activities in schools for kids with special needs, date TBC, Riga, Latvia

• Promotion of physical activity on the local level, 13-14 March 2014, Falticeni, Romania

• A campaign to MOVE Oise : MOVE 60, 22-23 May 2014, Mouy, France

• and Twinning Meetings in Ireland, Madeira, Italy and Germany.

Lead by example and join the ACTIVE Network closing conference!

Are you a sports organisation or municipality? If you said yes to one and have had a good experience working with the other, now is your time to speak up and inspire others to follow your example! You can still join in the closing event in Birmingham, UK, from 12-14 June, by submitting your example of effective partnership between a sports organisation and a municipality to the ACTIVE Network Collection of Good Examples. Fill in our questionnaire for your chance to learn more, first-hand, about unique partnerships in grassroots sport.

Access the questionnaire here

ACTIVE Network Closing Conference

Birmingham, UK, 12-14 June 2014

The most valuable partnership in grassroots sport: local authorities and sport organisations

What are the trends, opportunities and challenges?

The ACTIVE Network Closing Conference will give time and space for further discussion between ACTIVE Network partners and other cities, sport organisations and institutions to improve the coordination of partnerships and physical activity promotion across sectors. We will summarise and review the project’s results and define strategies for future collaboration. What trends do we see? Which partnerships will be needed in the future?

The Conference will also be an opportunity to discuss recent strategic challenges in health-enhancing physical activity and to discuss recommendations for the development of partnerships between sport organisations and municipalities in the future.

The conference will be hosted by StreetGames UK and the City of Birmingham.

The ACTIVE Network project is receiving support from the European Commission, Education and Culture DG, under the “2012 Preparatory Action in the Field of Sport”. Topic: Awareness-raising about effective ways of promoting sport at the municipal level.