British Judo (BJA) have today announced the launch of an ambitious and far reaching, nationwide consultation process to engage with its members and key stakeholders. The purpose of the consultation is twofold, to allow discussion on the loss of the European Championships and other BJA issues together with a critical piece of work, as the BJA looks to review and update its Memorandum and Articles of Association alongside a strategy to adopt a series of recommendations regarding the governance of British Judo.

The review element will take into account the recently published Government’s Charter for Sports Governance and changes proposed by the new Governance Code for Sport, which, UK Sport and Sport England will produce shortly as a condition for the continued receipt of government funding. It will also take into account the governance recommendations from the recent Hamlin’s review with the aim of ensuring that we have an appropriate governance plan for the next Olympic cycle.

The seven events, which will take place across the United Kingdom will be structured to facilitate an open discussion forum between the members and stakeholders. This will include an opportunity for senior members of the BJA to answer any questions from the members including the background to the loss of the European Championships.

These events will take place throughout August with a view to producing the appropriate recommendations for change to be presented at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in November 2016.

To facilitate the review British Judo has engaged Jonathan Hall Associates with the support of UK Sport and Sport England; Jonathan has a wealth of experience in sports governance having held senior executive and non-executive roles at both the Rugby Football Union and the Football Association as well as recently achieving an Executive Masters in European sports governance.

In addition to the open forum there will be a survey questionnaire which will be sent in mid/end – July to all members followed by the series of open meetings detailed below with a final national meeting in Walsall on Saturday 27^th August 2016.

Outlined below is the proposed timetable of events. The meetings are open to all stakeholders and not limited to area, so please take the opportunity to access these meetings and/or complete the questionnaire.

While the closing date for the questionnaire will be 30 August 2016, however, our aim is to utilise the comments from completed questionnaires to help inform the discussions at the open meetings. Therefore, anyone who may wish to have their comments considered at the meetings should complete the questionnaire before the 12 August 2016.

We sincerely hope you will engage in this process to ensure that we have the appropriate tools to help govern and direct the association moving forward to 2020 and beyond.

Mid July 16                         Circulation of Questionnaire (4-6 wks.): https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BJAGovernance

15 August                           Wales and South West Meeting

Tass Suite, Sport Wales National Centre, Sofia Gardens, Cardiff, CF11 9SW. 1900hrs

 

17 August                           London South and Southern Meeting

Checkatrade.com Stadium, Winfield Way, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 9RX.  1930hrs

 

18 August                           NHC and surrounding areas

High Wycombe Judo Centre, Barry Close, High Wycombe, HP12 4UE. 1930hrs

 

19 August                           Northern Ireland

Holiday Inn Antrim, Ballymena Road M2 Jct. 1, Antrim, BT41 4LL. 1930hrs

 

24 August                           Scotland Meeting

Murray Lecture Hall, Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, South Platt Hill, Ratho, EH28 8AA. 1930hrs

 

25 August                           North Meeting

Macdonald Tickle Trout Hotel, Preston New Rd, Samlesbury, Preston, PR5 0UJ. 1900hrs

 

27 August                           National and Midlands Meeting

Lecture Hall WA007, WA Building, University of Wolverhampton, Walsall Campus, Gorway Road, Walsall, WS1 3BD. All day event: 1000hrs – 1500hrs

29 August                          Eastern Area Meeting

Holiday Inn Express – Cambridge, Coldhams Business Park, Norman Way, Cambridge CB1 3LH. 1930hrs

EVENING MEETINGS FORMAT

1. Introduction – BJA Chairman

2. European Championships followed by Q&A – BJA Chairman or representative

3. Presentation and discussion of the Governance review – J Hall

4.  Summary

NATIONAL MEETING FORMAT

1. Introduction – BJA Chairman

2. European Championships and Open Forum on general BJA matters to BJA Board Members and Executive – BJA Chairman

3. Lunch

4. Presentation and discussion of the Governance review – J Hall

5.  Summary