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Policy and Advocacy Advisory Group

CASES champions the development and practice of Sport and Exercise Science by proactively acting to influence policy issues. We aim to ensure that the views of our membership are represented for relevant policymakers’ consideration.

Through the Policy and Advocacy Advisory Group, the Board of CASES will ensure key policymakers are provided with rigorous evidence, timely advice and are aware of the views, concerns, research, and evidence-based practice of our membership.

The purpose of the Policy and Advocacy Advisory Group is to ensure the Board can respond to consultations through a unified voice when informing Government and other agencies.

Examples of the types of work the Group has been involved in during its formation include writing to Vice Chancellors about delivering Sport and Exercise Science during the Pandemic, providing evidence to Parliamentary Select Committees on sport, and helping to give feedback to the Office for Students on their experimental ‘Proceed measure’. These, and other initiatives, have already resulted in raising the profile of the Association and ensuring our voice is heard by key decision makers.

Overview from the Chair, Dr Andy Smith FCASES MBE

As the Founding Chair of the Policy and Advocacy Advisory Group, I have had the privilege of working with an outstanding Team of volunteers to further the aims of the Association. In short, the purpose of the Panel is to:

1. Further the interests of Sport and Exercise Science by influencing policy makers.

2. Ensure policy makers have access to rigorous evidence and research when they make decisions.

3. Enable the Board to respond to government consultations.

This is complex and, at times, difficult work, the benefits of which will often only accrue in the long term. Our approach to this task has been to take the long-term view and to learn and build capacity and capability as we progress. In our first year, we have ‘built the bike as we rode it’ meaning that whilst creating systems and processes we have also energetically engaged with external stakeholders.

Contact

The Group would like to hear from you at any point if you have a suggestion on

who we should be lobbying, and
any policy issues the Association should be championing in the ‘public square’.

You can contact the Group by emailing the CASES Executive Director, Ian Wilson, iwilson@cases.org.uk marking the email “Suggestions for the CASES Policy and Advocacy Advisory Group”.

Meet the Policy and Advocacy Advisory Group

Dr Andy Smith MBE FCASES

Chair

Prof David Broom FCASES

Member

Dr Rita de Oliveira

Member

Prof John Dickinson FCASES

Member

Dr Mark Faghy

Member

Prof Kiara Lewis FCASES

Member

Dr Mark Ross

Member

Dr Lauren Struszczak

Member

Workstream Examples

Workstream 1 - Office for Students

Over the first year of the Group this work was led by Dr Neil Maxwell FCASES and Dr Mark Ross.

In our foundation year, this work was important because the Office for Students is the regulator for Higher Education and its work has a direct impact on many of our members and all students of Sport and Exercise Science.

Through this workstream we have consulted on the new strategy of the Office for Students. Importantly we have also commented on the Office for Students work on their ‘PROCEED data’ which seeks to measure student retention and graduate outcomes. In doing this work, the Group has worked closely with colleagues in the CASES Education and Teaching SIG with whom a strong working relationship has developed.

Going forward it is envisaged that the Group will continue to monitor developments from the Office for Students and work with the Education and Teaching SIG to act when appropriate.

Workstream 2 - Developing a strategy for the Group to help to prioritise its work

Over the first year of the Group, this work was led by Dr Rita de Olivera and Prof Charlie Foster OBE.

In our foundation year, this work was important to ensure that the work of the Group had a purposeful direction.

Through this workstream we have developed a closer working relationship with a number of external partners, notably the Science Council. We also have a strategy that directs and focuses our work.

Going forward it is envisaged that our strategy will focus the work of the Group in one or two key areas. For example, in 2023 this might include making a substantial submission to the Public Inquiry on COVID-19.

Workstream 3 - Parliamentary select committees across all Home Nations

Over the first year of the Group, this work was led by Prof John Dickinson FCASES and Dr Laureen Struszczak.

In our foundation year, this work was important because it enabled the Association to lobby key policy makers and learn how to influence key decision makers in sport, exercise and science.

In its first year the Group submitted detailed written evidence to

The DCMS Select Committee on Sport in our Communities
The House of Lords Select Committee on a National Plan for Sport and Recreation.

It is envisaged that in 2023 the Group will work with members across the Association to submit evidence to the Public Inquiry on COVID-19

Workstream 4 - Major sporting events

Over the first year of the Group, this work was led by Dr Matt Green and Prof David Broom FCASES.

In our foundation year, this work was important to ensure that the voice of CASES was heard around issues related to, for example, the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

As a result of work in this area, CASES submitted detailed written evidence to the DCMS Select Committee on Major Sporting Events.

Going forward it is envisaged that the Group will continue to create opportunities for CASES to shape thinking and action around major sports events.

Workstream 5 - Developing and maintaining a Group webpage

Over the first year of the Group, this work was led by Dr Lauren Struszczak and Dr Matt Green.

In our foundation year, this work was important to ensure that the Group had a way to communicate with the CASES membership and to ensure openness and transparency.

The result of this work is the webpage that you are reading now.