Community Engagement Network: October Meeting Wrap-Up

ClubsNSW created the Community Engagement Network (CEN) in 2016 in response to several requests from member clubs. The CEN is a group of club employees who have carriage of their club’s community engagement activities such as ClubGRANTS and community support. It is a place where these employees can share their stories, ideas and challenges and have an opportunity to learn and grow in their roles.

The group meets at least twice a year to discuss understanding community needs and developing relationships with their peers doing amazing work in the community, what they can learn from each other, setting clearer goals for partnerships, opportunities to create mutual value partnerships and more. It is also a great opportunity to tour the host club.

The focus of the October 2023 session was on ClubGRANTS and attaining positive media coverage. Over 20 club representatives were in attendance for presentations from ClubsNSW Executive Manager of Policy & Government Simon Sawday, who provided an update on the ClubGRANTS program and how changes will affect clubs and the organisations they donate to; ClubsNSW Senior Media Manager Michelle Rumery, who talked about crisis media strategies and how to gain positive media coverage for the industry and individual clubs; and ClubsNSW Marketing Manager Christopher Baluyot, who ran through social media strategies as well as some of the key messages set to be conveyed in the next Your Local Club ad campaign.

CEN members were also given the opportunity to provide feedback on the ClubGRANTS end-of-year reporting period and improvements to ClubGRANTS Online, with the day generating lively discussions.  

Thank you to the team at Canterbury League — particularly Jo Cheong, Greg Bygraves and Jonathan Brain — for being so hospitable.

The next CEN meeting is scheduled for February 2024. Stay tuned for more details!