How do I plan and commission the investment?

Being prepared

In an environment of limited resources, achieving the best outcomes for local people and communities in a cost effective manner requires clear evidence of community need and strategic planning.

 It is important to:

• Be fully engaged with all communities and understand their sporting needs
• Be alert to any specific equity issues that need addressing
• Have a clear and sustainable strategy to address these needs agreed with partners
• Take a co-ordinated approach with partners to transforming, sharing and reshaping services to meet these needs.
• Ensure sports provision is part of any wider local authority asset management strategy and contributes to both organisation outcomes and efficiency savings
• Consider a range of delivery options which could include:
  • cross boundary collaboration
  • co-location of services
  • social enterprise/trust models
  • private sector
  • community asset transfer

• Be ready to take opportunities to be commissioned by health, social care and children’s services to deliver their priority outcomes
• Have built capacity in the third sector if considering their role in being commissioned to deliver sports outcomes.

NEXT: Find out which tools and resources will help you plan and commission your investment