A mapping of the skills and competences that are typically needed or acquired when working in sport for development is now under way in the EU-supported CHANGE project. Partners from nine organisations across Europe gathered in Copenhagen on 26 and 27 of November for the second full partner meeting, which was hosted by the International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA).

The CHANGE project is co-funded by the EU’s Erasmus+ Programme and aims to develop professional standards and education in the area of sport for development through lead partner the European Observatoire of Sport and Employment’s (EOSE) 7-Step Model for lifelong learning and workforce development.

The model has previously been used to outline skills and competences among staff working in sports administration, in golf associations and clubs, and among referees and sports officials.

The first day of the meeting began with a theoretical discussion in sport for development led by Stephen Robson from Leeds Beckett University. Stephen led the group through a series of activities to ‎recap and confirm a common agreement on the context for the project and look at definitions of sport for development. All partners agreed sport for development relates to the intentional use of sport to bring about positive change.

Step 1 of the 7 Step Model is about research and the partners will carry out comprehensive desk research and interview a wide range of stakeholders in sport for development at the local, national, European and international level to gather a range of perspectives on the topic.

EOSE Skills Development Manager Geoff Carroll introduced the group to the planned methodology to be used in the project to define competence and develop occupational/ professional standards for the area of sport for development. He then collected ideas on how to develop occupational standards through functional analysis and the various ‎uses and benefits of agreeing standards for the area of sport for development.

The meeting was not only confined to the board room, with the discussions giving way to some friendly competition on the Petanque course at the end of the first working day. The much welcomed movement break saw the “Loch Ness Vikings” emerge as the victors, with hosts ISCA President Mogens Kirkeby (Denmark) and EOSE Director of Standards Ben Gittus (Scotland) taking out the inaugural CHANGE project Petanque tournament (pictured below).

The partners will gather again at Women Win’s headquarters in Amsterdam in April 2020 after the completion of the research and data collection phase.

CHANGE project partners: European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE); International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA); University of Cassino and Southern Lazio (UNICAS); Leeds Beckett University; The Greek General Secretariat for Sports; The Italian Sport for All Association (USIP); Sport Union of Slovenia (SUS); StreetGames; and Women Win.

Contact: Ben Gittus – EOSE Director of Standards