We believe in the power of partnerships. Partnerships amongst community organizations, even those outside of sport, have the power to enhance sport experiences for participants and increase capacities within organizations. For participants, inter-organizational partnerships can help to introduce new sport experiences and remove barriers to participation. For organizations, such partnerships allow for efficient use of resources and new opportunities to deliver programs and services.
Community partnerships between sport organizations offer the opportunity to engage new participants. For athletes, these partnerships offer a cross training opportunity which maintains skills during the off season (for sports with similar foundational movement patterns), or build new skills (sports with different skill sets). Consider a formalized partnership between two sport organizations, where each organization could realize the following benefits:
- Access to new participants
- Opportunities for cross-promotion
- Increased engagement among participants
- Higher levels of competition and skill from participants
Community partnerships with organizations outside of sport offers the opportunity for expanded services and programming without the need for additional funding or volunteers. A win-win situation is created when community-based organizations have shared values or common goals, with complementary skill sets and capacities. Some organizations that pair well with community sport organizations include:
- Municipal departments
- Community housing organizations
- Newcomer centres or organizations
- Child and youth service organizations
- Accessibility- and inclusion-centred organizations
Key considerations when forming partnerships
Forming a partnership with another community-based organization can be a big decision. We’ve outlined some key considerations to help you find the best fit for your organization:
- Core values and mandate: Are the core values of the organizations well aligned? Do the organizations have a similar mandate?
- Participant groups: Who is the main audience for each organization? Are you looking to reach new audiences? How many participants does each organization have?
- Program goals: What kinds of services and programming could be offered by the organizations in partnership? What goals are each organization trying to achieve?
- Capacities and skill sets: Do the organizations have skill sets/capacities that are complementary and could be mutually beneficial?
This is not a complete list of considerations in forming a partnership within the community, but it may enable you organization to begin researching potential partners and forming relationships.
How is Gay Ottawa Volleyball building a successful community partnership?
Gay Ottawa Volleyball (GOV) is currently building a partnership with Ten Oaks Summer Camp. Although the organizations are in the early stages of the partnership, it is an excellent example of the power of community partnerships.
GOV is a recreational volleyball organization that has been servicing the LGBTQ+ community in Ottawa for over 25 years. Traditionally, the programming has been available to adults. Recently, GOV was looking to expand their programming to LGBTQ+ youth but needed a way to build capacity and connect with new participants.
Ten Oaks Summer Camp is a sleep-away camp for children and youth from 2SLGBTQ+ identities, families, and communities. Ten Oaks Summer Camp began in 2004 when the founders Holly and Julia identified a lack of services for the children and youth of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The camp has served to provide some of those services and begin to close the gap.
Since the partnership began, Ten Oaks has been able to support GOV as they build their capacity to offer programming to LGBTQ+ youth and the hope is to deliver joint programming in the future. One way that Ten Oaks has supported GOV is by delivering training to the Board of Directors and core volunteers on engaging and working with LGBTQ+ youth in a recreational context.
As this partnership is only beginning, there are ample opportunities for Gay Ottawa Volleyball and Ten Oaks Summer Camp to support one another and create more positive sport experiences for individuals from LGBTQ+ communities.
How can the Ottawa Sport Council help?
The Ottawa Sport Council believes in the power of community. In 2021, as part of the year-long Rebound program, the Ottawa Sport Council Community Sport Slack Workspace was launched. Slack is a channel-based messaging platform used to share ideas and resources, ask questions, and connect with others to strengthen the community sport sector in Ottawa. This is a free virtual platform moderated by the Ottawa Sport Council. Register today to join the conversation.