Lead the Change
‘Lead the Change’ is an initiative to support more ethnically diverse people into leadership roles in sport and physical activity.
We are now welcoming applications for our second cohort, and we will be working alongside WRCFA , HTAFC, Equity Coach, Sporting Equals, and Blacklight Consultancy.
Yorkshire Sport Foundation is proud to launch a second round of ‘Lead the Change’ that will run from January to June 2026.
A series of five workshops will provide skills, knowledge and insights necessary for Executive and Non-Executive Director roles within the sports and physical activity sector.
Programme details:
Day one: Monday 26 January 2026 - 'Race' and its relationship with sport.
Understanding the history of ‘race’ and sport - how our systems are setup and the legacies we are confronting Exploring Cultural identity, cultural competency, and it’s link to bias and inclusion
Day two: Friday 27 February 2026 - Listening circles
Using listening circles to help reframe the narrative, share experiences and position the brilliance in the room.
Day three: Monday 23 March 2026- Sport, Leadership and me
Exploring what great leadership in sport looks like, and understanding their potential in that.
Day four: Wednesday 6 May 2026 - How to get out there
Generating a great CV, finding opportunities, using social media. It will also bring in stories and wisdom from leaders at this level.
Day five: Wednesday 10 June 2026 - Action planning
How to bring it all together. Creating a personal action plan and goals, centred on the learning of the programme.
Venue details:
Days 1-3: Huddersfield Town AFC, Accu Stadium, Stadium Way, Huddersfield, HD1 6PG
Days 4-5: West Riding County FA, Fleet Ln, Woodlesford, Leeds LS26 8NX
For further information please contact: Tahir Akram Mobile number: 07794 248 074 Email: tahir.akram@yorkshiresport.org
In the first cohort we worked alongside partners, Sporting Equals, West Riding County FA, Yorkshire Cricket, AKD Solutions, and Equity Coach, to provide up to 20 people from South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire with the opportunity to benefit from a five-day leadership programme in 2025.
We created a five-day leadership programme for individuals, and a one-day anti-racism workshop for leaders within organisations to understand the part they have to play in changing the narrative.
In February 2025 nineteen people became first cohort designed to put them in a stronger position to take on leadership roles.
Workshops included sporting systems and structures in the UK; developing a personal plan to support aspirations; and the knowledge and insights needed for Non-Executive Director roles within sports organisations.