Photo Gordon Morrison

At the NRHA Annual General Meeting in July, the NRHA was asked to meet with the BRSF concerning our working relationship.
The meeting took place on Saturday 14 Nov. 09.

The NRHA was represented by:
Gordon Morrison
Val Conroy
Julie Norris
Michaela Parfitt
Chris Freeman
Aileen Barker
Keith Allen
and myself

Those representing the BRSF were:
Dave Nichols – BRSF President
Kathy Morris – BRSF CRB Officer and BIPHA
Ron Gibbs – FARS President
Ben Severs – BRSF Coaching Team and FISS
Tom Fell – BRSF Coaching Team
Nick Loder – FARS

Ron Barker chaired the meeting.
Aileen Barker took the minutes.

Together with the NRHA, those present at the meeting represented a good cross-section of the disciplines encompassed by the BRSF and this was of considerable value to achieving shared understandings.

The meeting centered on examining why communications were not working and what could be done to improve the position. The subjects of coaching qualification and CRB checks were covered in detail.

Coaching courses and coach qualification
Background: BRSF conforms to the policies and processes of UKCC. This is necessary in order that coaches have a coaching qualification readily recognised by sports facilities, schools, accreditations such as ClubMark and funding bodies. Each discipline’s coach training programme needs to cover the central generic requirements as well as the discipline specific modules. The BRSF has undertaken to provide the generic requirements.

The NRHA had three issues regarding the BRSF’s approach to this coaching structure:
1.the recognition of Carlos Amaral’s coaching credentials that were gained overseas, and
2.how to accredit the coaches the NRHA has qualified through its coach training scheme.
3.the cost of attending BRSF coach training courses.

It was agreed that, within the next three months:
1.the BRSF Coaching Team and Carlos will meet and agree how to get recognition of Carlos’s coaching credentials.
2.the BRSF Coaching Team and Carlos will meet to ensure that the Coaching Courses that Carlos is running contain all the elements that UKCC require and a module will be defined and set up whereby any missing elements can be picked up by those who have been through the courses without starting afresh. The BRSF, through the Coaching Team, headed by Dave Nichols, can do this at a cost and we are looking for a quotation from the BRSF for carrying out the course at Peterborough.
3.We will achieve a position whereby the NRHA provides courses that are fully endorsed by the BRSF.

The pricing of BRSF coach training courses was explained. The grant funding to set up and give the courses covered only one third of the budgeted expense of the programme. It was stated that trainees would be able readily to seek funding locally for their attendance as a result of the BRSF’s courses being recognised by UKCC.

CRB
Background: The NRHA has set up its own CRB/child protection policies and process. This uses Atlantic Data for CRB checks and is administered by Michaela Parfitt. BRSF has set this up with Kathy Morris, the Child Protection Officer for BIPHA and she is accredited as a Lead Signatory for CRB. There has to be a review of policies and the process as a result of the ISA (Independent Safeguarding Authority) starting its role in 2010. It also ought to be attractive to avoid duplication.

The BRSF (BIPHA) service is available through Kathy to all member Federations within the BRSF. CRB checks through the BRSF service are valid across all Federations of the BRSF

It was agreed that:
1.the NRHA policies and process appeared fit for purpose but Kathy needs more time to check this thoroughly.
2.the policies are changing all the time and that Kathy would identify an up to date reference document to Michaela.
3.The NRHA will review its position in light of the ISA requirements (the cost of using the BRSF service is little different to the costs we currently incur)

Funding Applications
Background: A funding application by a NRHA affiliated club had referred to the BRSF as “the National Governing Body”.

It was resolved that:
The BRSF is “the National Governing Body” from the NRHA position of seeking funding
The NRHA is “the National Governing Body” to be referred to by any NRHA affiliated club seeking funding

Communication between the bodies
It was noted that communications should be at the relevant level of responsibility, in respect of the current matters:
1.Coaching executive to coaching executive
2.Child protection officer to child protection officer
3.It was inappropriate for the BRSF to directly set about developing any area or club in respect of any particular discipline other than by delegating the development to the Federation concerned. A channel to control development must be identified by the NRHA to work with the BRSF in respect of current and future opportunities.
4.All communications should be copied to the NRHA General Secretary for record keeping

It was observed that the BRSF had not had a functioning general secretary for some time and that this should be rectified as soon as reasonably possible as the role is essential as a control channel for communications.

Costs
As the NRHA were requesting the meeting, the BRSF Officers requested and received travel expenses.
These amounted to £310.00.
The cost of the meeting room and buffet was £156.85
The total being £466.85

Conclusions
Within the next 3 months:
We hope to have Coaching Courses and Child Protection processes endorsed by the BRSF.
We will know the cost and method of achieving BRSF Level 1 & 2 for our coaches
We will be able to gauge the progress made in communicating and working together

We will then re-assess the position

Ron Barker – Chairman