This post is from Rob Greenland – he’s a Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL) associate and is running the How To Create An Environmental Action Plan masterclasses as part of the West Yorkshire Sport for Good programme of free sessions for sports organisations and groups, which are running in spring/summer 2025.  

Rob has 25 years of experience working with social enterprises in West Yorkshire – specialising in supporting groups to take practical action on sustainability issues.  In his spare time he’s a runner – and a volunteer Run Director at his local parkrun.  Here he gives his perspective on why you should join him for this masterclass.   

Let’s be honest.  When you run a sports club, there’s no end of things to think about. 

There are all those behind-the-scenes tasks that need doing so you can make sure the good stuff happens.

At Sport For Good, we’re offering you support on a number of these important themes.  From governance, to fundraising, to managing volunteers. 

And one of the other topics we’re offering support on is around managing the environmental impacts of all the good stuff you get up to. 

With our How To Create An Environmental Action Plan masterclass we’ll help you to understand what those impacts are – and then come up with an action plan to reduce any negative impacts – whilst also making more good things happen.

We’ll focus in particular on things you can do which will have wider benefits for your organisation and your members.

That might include saving money on your energy bills.  Or cutting down on the cost of getting your bins emptied.  Or helping members save money by setting up a kit exchange.

Or it might involve encouraging more car sharing.  Or maybe catering for events using surplus food.  

These are all things that have important environmental impacts.  And just as importantly they can bring big social and financial benefits too – both for your organisation and your members. 

I know from personal experience that we’re already seeing the impacts of our changing climate right here in West Yorkshire.  

I’m a runner.  I’ve also got ginger hair and fair skin.  

So you’ll understand why I’m not very happy about having had to run more races in extreme heat in the last few years.

You’ve probably noticed things changing too.  Maybe your pitches are flooding a bit more regularly.  Or perhaps the number of people turning up for sessions has dipped on really hot days.  Our changing climate has real impacts on activity levels – and ultimately on the viability of our clubs.

But of course, we can’t solve a problem like climate change on our own.  Yet as sports clubs and organisations, there’s a lot that we can do.  

And that’s the point of the masterclass.  To work together to understand where things need to change – and then come up with a plan for taking action.  Actions that change things for the better for you, for your members, and for the planet.  

I’m running the How To Create An Environmental Action Plan masterclass in Leeds on Thursday 1 May. 

You can also book on to this masterclass in other areas of West Yorkshire, including Bradford on 1 April.

All the workshops for clubs in Leeds can be found on this collection: Sport for Good – workshops in Leeds

Third Sector Leeds