Developing a programme-ready consortium

A consortium is a group of partners working together to develop and drive the application for a PlayZone portfolio in your area. The consortium identifies local priorities and engages with partners and community groups before submitting an investment-ready portfolio.

Each consortium should appoint a Lead Organisation, based on local geography, politics and delegation of responsibility.

Examples of organisations within a consortium include:

Responsibilities of a consortium include:

• Consolidating, reviewing, and discussing existing insight for the local area
• Identifying priority audiences and places
• Appointing a project manager to coordinate the project
• Ensuring community engagement is ongoing and remains central to the approach
• Managing relationships between local stakeholders
• Identifying multi-sport opportunities across local communities
• Seeking external expertise when required (e.g. technical, planning, design)
• Securing local partnership funding 

The following readiness factors will determine which phase of the programme best suits your local area and will identify the support you need in your application:

• Commitment – Stakeholders are dedicated to tackling inequalities within targeted communities, with community engagement central to the programme.

• Capacity – Consortia are required to commit the appropriate time and resources to managing the project.

• Consortium - The best strategic and local partners have been identified to represent the community and become integral to the development and delivery of the project. Key land-owning organisations should also be represented on the consortium.

• Clear local priorities – Consortium members have identified and agreed on local priority target groups and communities, to be evidenced with an approved strategy for sport, physical activity, health and/or facilities in the area or through their LFFP, with a clear vision of how this programme complements other investments in priority areas.

• Partnership funding - Consortia commit to securing a capital partnership funding contribution towards the portfolio.

• Activation/Workforce – Local groups like professional club community organisations are ready to activate the spaces, along with a commitment to developing a volunteer workforce locally to support long term sustainability

• Timing – Efforts will be made to ensure the portfolio of PlayZones will be ready for submission to the Foundation within 12 months of submitting the Expression of Interest (EOI).