CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S COLUMN
Expanding the Ways to Contribute While committees remain an essential part of how we operate, I am excited to explore broader and more flexible ways for people to participate. Not everyone has time for a formal role, and not every challenge requires a standing committee. Sometimes what we need is a small team to deliver a project, a specialist to lend targeted advice, or a group of volunteers to support key initiatives for a short period. By creating more ways to share expertise and enthusiasm, we unlock the full potential of our people. The experience and insights within Croquet are remarkable and I would love to make the most of them. We simply need to harness them. Your Croquet Needs You! Whether you are a seasoned volunteer, a new member keen to contribute, or someone with specialist skills that could help achieve success, there is a place for you in what comes next. Together, we can ensure More People are Playing More Croquet in More Places for fun, friendship and competition. I look forward to sharing more soon, and to working with many more of you as we move ahead.
form the backbone of croquet across the country. Their pride in the sport and their determination to see it thrive have been invaluable as I near the conclusion of our new strategic plan. This strategy has been shaped by the conversations I have had. Your insights, experiences, and ideas have helped build a plan that reflects our ambitions. What has become most clear is that our people must remain at the centre of everything we do. A Call for Wider Support As we prepare to share the new strategy in the coming weeks, I want to make a simple but significant request: we need more people in more places to help drive our sport forward. We already benefit from dozens of highly skilled and committed individuals through our committee structures, and their work is critical and appreciated. But to achieve our ambitions, we must go further. Croquet is rich not only in history, but in the collective expertise of its members. Across the country there are people with professional skills, creative ideas, and valuable life experience – that I would love to harness for the good of the sport. If you believe you can contribute, especially in areas such as fundraising, marketing and communications, sports development, or project management, I encourage you to keep an eye out for upcoming opportunities to get involved.
Andy Dalby-Welsh Chief Executive Officer Croquet England
YOUR CROQUET NEEDS YOU! Over the past few months, I have had the privilege of visiting several of our clubs and speaking directly with many of the dedicated people who make Croquet England what it is today. From the timeless charm of Hurlingham to the warmth of Roehampton, the stunning setting at Nottingham and the thriving activity at Southwick, each visit has shown me the passion and commitment that lie at the heart of our sport. Most recently, conversations at the Coaching Committee meeting and the Yorkshire Federation’s general meeting further reinforced this: croquet is powered by its people. A Community That Inspires Every club and committee I have encountered embodies a shared truth - our sport flourishes because of volunteers who give their time, energy, and expertise. Whether maintaining courts, running events, coaching new players, or shaping policy, volunteers
www.croquetengland.org.uk | 4
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