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Be Future-Proof

Build sustainability from the start
Use your vision, values and local context to shape your activity/organisation’s structure
Plan to run independently (or as close as possible) and build resilience to ensure any setbacks can be overcome
In some cases, the focus could be to continue to sustain what you have already

Get ideas for your activity here

1Subs

Seacroft on Top

Seacroft on Top aims to keep costs affordable for participants while ensuring the sustainability of the activities. For instance, their Community Gym offers memberships at just £5 per month, providing accessible fitness opportunities. Similarly, the football membership for children is priced at an affordable £8 per year, making it accessible for families while still contributing to the sustainability of the football program.

South Leeds Valkyries

"We were lucky to receive funding to set up SLV from Get Active Leeds, Get Set Local Leeds, and St. Luke Cares from the start of the project. This helped cover court costs and coaching through LDM. It meant we could offer the sessions for free. However, we don’t rely solely on funding. As participants increased and we began to build a regular attendee list, we introduced pay-as-you-feel. This can be done via bank transfer or via a donation box. We also hold regular fundraisers, participating in wider community events like Beeston Park Festival, with the aim of becoming self-sufficient."

"We are a women’s basketball team which creates a safe space for women to socialise, exercise, and learn a new skill. To remain inclusive to all women, subs are discretionary and we don’t keep track of who has contributed. We do organise events outside of training. To ensure these are accessible if someone is struggling, we can take funds from our subs and cover them. This ensures we have team cohesion and everyone has the same opportunities."

2Organisation status

Good Deeds

Good Deeds began as a constituted group, which worked well for a long time, but as demand grew for our offer and we developed what we do in the community we realised we needed to formalise our group differently. We wanted to be able to apply for different funding pots. We looked at the varying options and decided that becoming a CIO was right for us currently. It wasn’t an easy process, but we’re hoping it puts us in a stronger position for the future.

3Fundraising and donations

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4Sponsorship

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5Utilise the personal skills of the group

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6Take the activity to a new area

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7Young leader

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8Create opportunities for volunteers

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9Listen to what locals want

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10Connect with other groups to fill the gaps

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11Apply for funding

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12Evaluate and monitor progress

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13Keep one step ahead of finances

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14Local business network

These partnerships could involve corporate social responsibility initiatives, sharing facilities, or collaborating on workplace-related projects. Connecting with businesses across different areas can open up valuable opportunities for mutual growth and support.