The Northern Ireland Sports Forum has announced a new partnership with Belfast based consultancy S3 Solutions, aimed at enhancing support for voluntary sports organisations across the region.
The collaboration will see S3 Solutions support the Forum’s Finding Funding Service and deliver practical funding workshops for its members.
In addition, affiliated members and clubs of the Forum will gain access to exclusive service offers including Funding Alerts and discounted subscriptions to S3 Solutions’ FundReady and AccountsReady services.
Executive Manager of the Northern Ireland Sports Forum, Richard Honeyford, welcomed the announcement, describing it as a valuable opportunity to strengthen services and increase the impact of both organisations within the sporting community.
“We are delighted to develop a partnership between S3 Solutions and the NI Sports Forum. It presents a unique opportunity for both organisations to enhance their impact and support for the sports community,” he said.
Established in 2013, S3 Solutions has built a strong reputation in the third and public sector for helping clients deliver meaningful social change.
The consultancy has assisted in securing over £250 million in funding to date, supporting local authorities, national governing bodies, sports clubs and community organisations in delivering a wide range of projects.
S3 Solutions provides several services tailored to the needs of third sector organisations.
FundReady is a subscription service that provides clients with up to date funding information, as well as guidance and hands on support for preparing and submitting applications.
AccountsReady offers accounting services specifically designed for the sector, supporting organisations with payroll, funder reporting, and annual accounts.
The firm also provides social impact reporting tools through its ImpactReady platform and strategic consulting services through its multidisciplinary team.
Honeyford said the partnership comes at a time when demand for funding support and workshops is increasing across the voluntary sports sector. He added that S3 Solutions’ expertise would help the Forum meet that demand and deliver on key objectives in its current strategy, including expanding member services, diversifying support offerings and enhancing education and training opportunities.
Chris Hood, Partnerships Manager at S3 Solutions, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership and its potential to benefit sports organisations throughout Northern Ireland.
“We look forward to building on our relationship with the NI Sports Forum through the partnership, complimenting the range of valuable member services the NISF provides in its role as the independent voice of voluntary sport in Northern Ireland,” said Hood.
“S3 Solutions has a strong track record of delivering meaningful and lasting outcomes within the sports sector and this partnership provides us with a great opportunity to strengthen our contribution to the growth and sustainability of NGBs, sports clubs and community sports organisations across the country.”
Further Reading for Sport for Business members:
Check out Sport for Business coverage of Inclusion
SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
Enabling a shared services approach for smaller sporting bodies who would not otherwise have the capacity, is a winning service and a positive contribution for the Forum to offer to its members.
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Rob Hartnett of Sport for Business will be speaking at the Ulster Rugby Business Club event on June 12th.
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