The DSN Open Clubs meeting on 2nd October attracted 50 attendees from clubs across the borough. Also attending were Cllr Catherine McArevey, Mayor of Dacorum and representatives from Dacorum Borough Council, Herts Sports Partnership, Community Action Dacorum and Everyone Active.
The speakers included:
Kevin Hallahan from NHS Herts who talked about the importance of Blood Pressure monitoring and the benefits of doing so for those involved in sport, including young people. Kevin issued free blood pressure testing machines to all the clubs who attended on the night. (Download presentation)
The second speaker was Keith Pollard, a member of both the DSN Executive Group and Sported who is also a past Chairman of Berkhamsted Raiders. Keith explained how Raiders had started working with CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) after they had lost two past players to sudden undiagnosed heart conditions – one in his teens and the other in their early twenties. Raiders now do a heart monitoring day with CRY every 2 years for their youth players over 14. (Download presentation)
Bobs Fox from Herts Sports Partnership talked about how Sport England were now funding of Sport Welfare Officers to support clubs in improving safeguarding, welfare and best practice. (Download presentation). Also from HSP, Emma Catlin then introduced their exciting plans for the Herts Year of Disability Sport 2026 which is being planned for the coming year. (Download presentation)
Huma Abbasi and Chris Fennell from Dacorum Borough Council talked about funding opportunities from DBC. Huma explained the sports bursaries programme to fund training (Download presentation); and Chris Fennel talked about the two other Community Grant Funds available from DBC, one of which is open to new funding applications of up to £4000 in November/December this year. (Download grant information)
Finally, Loretta Anderson from Community Action Dacorum provided information on the help available from CAD especially in support for Sports Clubs on Safeguarding, Risk Assessment and DBS checking. (Download presentation)
The evening was kindly hosted by Hemel Hempstead Town Cricket Club and DSN would like to than the club for its generosity and hospitality in holding this event at their club.