(image) Sports Volunteering North West (SVNW) is the independent regional body, established to represent volunteers and the voluntary sector in sport and physical activity in the North West. KKP is currently supporting the stakeholder Board of this ‘not for profit' company.

This covers strategic development and operational delivery; incorporating event management, research, marketing & communications, funding bids, reporting and other board support. We are also evaluating how to take forward the development of ‘Get Connected' - SVNW's web-based system to broker links between volunteers and appropriate volunteering opportunities.

The upward growth curve of the UK voluntary sector is still very much in evidence: sports' volunteering makes up one third of all volunteering. Millions of people are involved every week supporting others to participate and compete. In addition, as we move towards 2012, everyone will be looking to see how they can be involved in this once in a lifetime opportunity.

We are currently organising SVNW's annual conference. This dedicated event brings volunteers and professional staff together allowing them to learn from each other and providing delegates with updates and high quality workshops on essential topic areas within volunteering.

This year will be no exception. KKP has attracted leading figures from sport in the UK to deliver key note speeches to provide a real and wide perspective on topics such as maximising the impact of 2012, how volunteers will underpin the delivery of national governing body of sport whole sport plans and how sport can learn from other sectors. Volunteer managers and coordinators from across the North West region will also have the opportunity to learn from others and get new ideas via a series of facilitator led sessions.

The Chair of SVNW, Karen Tonge (MBE) will open the event by updating delegates about current plans for SVNW and explaining what the future holds for volunteering in the North West.

With its excellent knowledge and experience of the dynamics of sports' volunteering from both sides of the table, KKP is ideally placed to provide an objective yet informed view on the future role and direction of SVNW. Commenting on the added value it is bringing, Karen said,

"KKP's professional approach and its knowledge of the sector has had a major impact; it has assisted us to look hard and realistically at what we do now, and might do in the future, to take our work forward and best support the sector."

For more information, contact Clare MacLeod, Principal Consultant (clare.macleod@kkp.co.uk)

To find out more about this year's SVNW conference visit the SVNW website - www.sportsvolunteeringnw.org