Club Leadership Programme - a great opportunity for new leaders 

Are you new to a leadership role in your club, or thinking about stepping into one soon? The Club Leadership Programme is designed to help you grow your confidence and skills as a leader, even if you’re just starting out. 

This programme is open to all England Athletics affiliated clubs, and each club can apply for two free places. 

What is the Club Leadership Programme? 

Back by popular demand, this online personal development programme is created by the England Athletics Club Support Team. It’s designed to help clubs become safe, sustainable, and welcoming places for everyone. 

The programme is ideal for club committee members who want to learn how to lead effectively and make a positive impact. It’s especially suited to those who are new to leadership or preparing to take on a leadership role in the future. 

Sessions are once a week (on a Monday for cohort 1 and on a Tuesday for cohort 2), starting between 7pm and 7.30pm and are short and concise, lasting between 75-90 minutes.

What’s included? 

The programme is delivered by Annie's Training Company, experts in learning and development. It includes: 

• Online webinars with practical advice and guidance 

• Networking opportunities to connect with other club leaders 

• Useful resources to support your learning 

How will it help you? 

For you: 

• Build confidence in your leadership abilities 

• Learn how to influence and support positive changes in your club 

• Discover different leadership styles and how to use them 

• Gain tools to plan and lead effectively 

For your club: 

• Stronger leadership and better teamwork within the committee 

• Improved decision-making that puts members first 

• Clearer planning for the future, including succession planning 

Who can join? 

Each club can nominate two people to take part: 

• This may be someone new to the committee 

• It may also be someone who is preparing to take on a leadership role soon 

We’re especially keen to support emerging leaders who are new to leadership and want to grow. 

To apply, your club should have met all seven Club Standards, or be actively working towards them. 

Why apply? 

This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your leadership skills in a supportive and friendly environment. The programme is always popular, so we recommend applying early to avoid missing out. We’ve planned two cohorts to help meet demand. 

What about experienced leaders?  

For those with significant committee leadership or with industry leadership experience, England Athletics is also offering an online programme tailored for experienced leaders. This is also being delivered by Annie’s Training Company.  

It’s ideal for Club Chairs, Secretaries, Welfare Officers, Trustees and all others who want to deepen their knowledge and impact and support the next generation of club leaders.  

Dates are confirmed as: 19 January 2026, 16 February 2026, 27 April 2026, 11 May 2026.

Alumni of previous Club Leadership Programme cohorts are automatically invited to these sessions, but if you have any experienced leaders who would be interested in accessing these sessions, please complete the experienced leaders application form.

Club Leadership programme timings

Cohort 1 - One weekly session on a Monday   

Cohort 2 - One weekly session on a Tuesday   

Experienced Club Leaders Programme

Sessions will take place in the evening and will last no more than 90 minutes.

Any questions? email: eaclubleadership@englandathletics.org