Volleyball England 2023 AGM summary

In his opening welcome, he thanked CEO Charlie Ford and Deputy CEO Guin Batten for their efforts since coming into post, as well as outgoing Delivery Lead for Competitions James Murphy, recently-retired British Volleyball Foundation Chair Richard Callicott and Volleyball England Foundation Chair Simone Turner (who steps down in August) for their devoted work while in post. 

At what was his first AGM, Ford then outlined the organisation’s overall progress during the previous 12 months and thanked the volleyball community for being so helpful and approachable while settling into the CEO role. 

He said as an organisation, Volleyball England ‘continued to punch above its weight’ and had successfully realigned the strategic vision of The Game Plan strategy. 

Ford explained that considerable progress had been made on two digital transformation projects – the Globocol system to strengthen safeguarding measures and the new VolleyZone. 

An 8% and 9% growth in Senior and Junior NVL Team entries was, he said, ‘a testament to the hard work of the clubs’, which was achieved despite ongoing challenges around access to facilities and volunteer numbers. 

In terms of legacy from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, he said that three beach volleyball courts at Moseley would officially open next month and that discussions were progressing on a second facility at the city’s Alexander Stadium. 

The Beach Volleyball Development Centres, based across the country, are also soon to come into operation, he added, which will help establish a strong Performance Pathway in that arm of the sport. 

Financial consultant Kevin Fletcher gave a report where he explained that turnover was up £400,000 year on year following the return to normal activities post the Covid-19 Pandemic. 

He also pointed out that more than 50 per cent of income was generated by the organisation for the first time, another significant step forward. 

Walker then gave his overview and focused on the situation that led to all but one of the resolutions and special resolutions that were to be voted on at the meeting being withdrawn, after the democratic process had been compromised. 

He explained the decision to remove those resolutions had been taken following independent legal advice, was done so with the backing of Sport England and that a more formal investigation would take place in a bid to ensure there was no repeat in future years. 

Walker also took the opportunity to acknowledge that there were ‘lessons to be learned’ about the way the resolutions had been communicated to the volleyball community and vowed what was being put forward would be better explained, and at an earlier date, for AGMs to come. 

The resolution that did remain, to reappoint auditors Duncan and Topliss, was passed, with 37 of the 42 votes in favour.

The Volleyball England Board has also agreed to co-opt Simon Cowie and Jeremy Harris into the Competitions and Clubs and Networks Delivery Lead roles respectively. 

Expressions of interest for the Commercial, Sitting Volleyball and Coaching Delivery Lead roles are still be invited and can be sent to governance@volleyballengland.org.