Activity Alliance reviews a successful year at AGM

Activity Alliance held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday 4 October 2023. Our Chair, Sam Orde, welcomed members, partners, and charity supporters to the event in Loughborough. During the meeting, our team shared some of the charity’s most impactful work from the last 12 months and thanked attendees for their continued commitment to inclusion.

Activity Alliance Chair, Sam Orde, and Chief Executive, Adam Blaze, opened the meeting with a warm welcome to all attendees. This was Adam Blaze’s first AGM as CEO after joining the organisation in January 2023.

Over the last year, Activity Alliance has welcomed change and embraced new ways of working to enhance our impact across the sport sector and beyond. Today’s event provided an opportunity reflect on this with attendees and look to the future together.

Among the agenda items, we presented our Annual Trustees’ Report to attendees. In the report, Adam writes about his pride at returning to lead Activity Alliance. He said:

"Returning to Activity Alliance after 15 years working at Sport England, I was already aware of the charity’s outstanding reputation. We are recognised across the sport and physical activity sector because we are in a unique position to offer so much that many cannot.

 "I am in a fortunate position to take on this role with a solid platform to look ahead and truly create change, to change disabled people's lives for the better. This year’s report shows the vital work that we do, but also just how far there is to go.

"Looking ahead, we are already thinking about our next strategy in 2024. It will be a significant milestone as we gather essential insight and assess how we can affect the widespread change required. It is an important moment in time."

Also in the report, Sam pays thanks to Barry Horne MBE who stood down as CEO after 12 years, stating that "his dedication was unwavering and his leadership instrumental in getting Activity Alliance to where it is today."

She went on to highlight the progress made in Activity Alliance’s first year of system partner funding.

"As the sector focussed on recovering from the pandemic, we have seen our research team provide vital insight for the sector. Everything we learn means we can continue to deliver inclusive programmes that have a real impact on the ground across the nation. I was delighted to see the return of the National Junior Athletics Championships too, a flagship event, showcasing our inclusive event expertise.  

"We completed our first of a five-year cycle through Sport England’s system partner funding. This commitment to our work ensures we can help even more organisations to increase the range of accessible, inclusive, and welcoming ways for disabled people to be and stay active.

"We are excited about the collaboration and opportunities all our funders bring to so many. 

"Just as importantly, we continue to use our voice to advocate for meaningful change. As we work towards our vision, we will ensure our conversations are at all levels. Our decision making is only made better by listening to disabled people and recognising their lived experiences to ensure that if change happens, it’s genuine and long-lasting."

The meeting also acknowledged changes to our Board of Trustees with new appointments and three Trustees stepping down. Lucy Smith and Issy Michelson were  today appointed as member nominated trustees, with membership also notified of the appointment of Emma Pawson. 

The Board also said thank you and offered their best wishes to James Daly, Hilary Farmiloe and Lucy Moore are stepping down as Trustees.

Activity Alliance’s impact and Annual Trustees’ Report 2022-23

Our impact highlights and Annual Trustees’ Report is produced in several alternative formats to ensure it can be viewed by the widest audience possible.

Click here to view our online Impact Report 2022-23 (including alternative formats).

Download our Annual Trustees’ Report 2022-23 PDF document.

This Annual Trustees’ Report is also available in Word Format. Please contact us if you need more support. Email info@activityalliance.org.uk or call 01509 227750.