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HOVE RUGBY - A CLUB FOR THE COMMUNITY

A CATCHUP WITH GERALDINE BROWN, CHAIR AND FORMER PLAYER

SWIMMING IN THE SEA…

IT’S GOOD FOR YOU...ISN’T IT?!

TO BOO...OR NOT TO BOO

THAT IS THE QUESTION?!

HURSTPIERPOINT COLLEGE

RECOGNISING THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL VALUE OF SPORT

Hove Rugby - a club for the community

Earlier this month, I managed to catch up with Hove Rugby Club’s Chair and former player, Geraldine Brown, who told me about the club’s history and shared information about plans for the future.

It all began in 1933, when Territorial Army officers and men of the Sussex Yeomanry formed a rugby club affiliated to the Rugby Football Union and after the second world war, they played their home matches at East Brighton Park. In 1952 the Yeomanry realised they could no longer continue without new players, so the members approached the then Mayor of Hove, Alderman Arthur Brocke together with Councillor Jack Woolley, and secured a pitch in Hove Park where the old timber Scout Hut was refurbished with the usual facilities we take for granted today. By the early 60s, the Club had expanded its membership to allow for four teams and in those early years, reportedly gained a reputation for being a very ‘social’ Club, regularly providing entertainment for the opposition through the refreshment of the now defunct Watney’s Red Barrel! After spending many years at Hove Park, the Club looked at various sites to enable their expansion on and off the pitch to continue. These included Benfield Valley and the Neville playing fields, both of which were initially rejected by the Council. Then, completely out of the blue, an opportunity presented itself to move to Hove Recreation Ground, but it wasn’t until the Brighton and Hove Councils merged that it was able to become a reality. Eventually the Club moved the short distance to Hove Rec ready for the start of the 2002–2003 season, where it resides today. The building of new facilities

and the provision of four pitches at one location gave the Club what it needed Sports to break out from the lower levels of the English structure and to enable it to look to the future. The new Clubhouse was opened by the Mayor of Brighton and Hove in August 2002, which coincided with the Club’s 50th anniversary. Today Hove prides itself on being a community club which focuses on working to deliver a great rugby experience for everyone. Having recently expanded to cover girls’ rugby, the Club are able to provide all ages and genders the opportunity to play, including their newly reformed veterans team. With three men’s sides competing in RFU and the Sussex leagues and three women’s teams, Geraldine is delighted the Club are now seeing third generation players coming through, however there is so

much more to a successful club than just the players. “We have been working on increasing the number of volunteers in the club (we are completely volunteer run) and also expanding how the club can be used to support the wider community.”

With the Club proud of it’s standing in the community, I asked Geraldine about the importance of both youth rugby and women’s rugby at Hove. “Youth and Women’s rugby are integral to Hove, as we were one of the first clubs in Sussex to start a youth section and have had a women’s team for over 30 years! This year we started a third women’s team and the first team play at the level below the premiership. My involvement with the club comes from being a player and when I became Chair six years ago, I was one of the first female chairs in the country.”

Having reported on neighbours Brighton Blues in a previous role a good few years back and with the teams playing in different leagues, I was eager to find out if there existed a genuine rivalry between the two local clubs. Particularly as at one time, there was even the suggestion that both clubs amalgamate, following the construction of the Brighton (A27) bypass, reportedly allowing Brighton to become cash rich after their move to Waterhall!

“Our first ever game as Hove Rugby Club was against Brighton on 20 September 1952, losing 32-3, with the Man of the Match being Scottish international Charlie McDonald playing for Brighton. We fondly call Brighton the club over the hill given how close the clubs are geographically as the crow flies, but in the main both clubs get along well with a recent joint event when the President of the RFU was down for the RFUs 150th Celebration. The focus of the rivalry has abated in the club over the past few years, on the men’s side there is always an interest in who wins when we get matched against each other. Coming from the female side of the game there isn’t a rivalry as Brighton don’t have a women’s section.”

One of the biggest challenges facing the club today and in the future is that they are a victim of their own success and are running out of space to fit in all their members. Providing rugby for all age groups from five-year-olds through to a newly reformed men’s Veterans team means an increase on the playing side, meaning on Sundays they even need to separate the training throughout the day in order to continue to give a high-quality rugby experience to all their players.

As always, sports clubs across the county need the support of local businesses and Hove are no exception. “We offer a range of sponsorship opportunities for local businesses to get involved with the club. These can be anything from maintenance to financial support. Some of our sponsors are dentists, lettings agents and local accountants. With such a large membership, we have number of members who operate their own businesses, and we try to get them involved as much as we can when sourcing contractors. We offer a large amount of promotion as part of sponsorship where businesses can have their logo displayed on kit, flags, the clubhouse and on social media. There continues to be great opportunities to expand our business network and we have recently made the move to start using the club house for local events and functions.”

Hove RFC undoubtedly has a great future ahead and working with the community has certainly helped with their success. Providing rugby for everyone is the way forward and clubs like Hove are a great example of why rugby in Sussex will continue to go from strength to strength.

Swimming in the sea...It’s good for you...Isn’t it??

Like many people over the last couple of years, being largely couped up and slightly reticent to return to socialising/networking on a regular basis, one of my New Year’s resolutions was to get out and try something different.

I have always regarded the idea of entering the sea to swim for fun as complete lunacy, particularly at this time of year, when it’s ridiculously cold even standing on the beach watching the waves gently breaking on the shore. For me, the only acceptable exception is during the summer as a small child, or preferably in the warm crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean or Caribbean! Fast forward then to January 2022 and after realising that several of my friends and work acquaintances take the plunge on a regular basis, and swear that it’s good for them, yours truly has decided to find out what all the fuss is about. After initiating some light research into what my friends find so appealing, the most apparent common denominator was that sea swimming is a great way to begin your day. “It makes me feel great, kick starts the system and gives me a massive adrenaline shot in the morning.” Others offered that it’s a great booster for your immune system, helps with aching limbs as a form of pain relief, builds resilience and provides a sense of freedom – “it’s the most energising thing I’ve ever done.” However, despite my heart and my head telling me it would be a lot easier

to have a cold shower, the overriding factor to support this seemingly insane Sports idea of getting up early to go swimming in the freezing cold English Channel is that it’s excellent for your mental health. I for one, need this boost and undoubtedly, we could all probably do with a lift in one form or another. Encouraged by additional comments that it’s also a great stress reducer, helps with sleep and enables you to feel like you can take on anything that life throws at you, I set the date and time for my debut dip. However, there still remained the small matter of establishing the best advice

then for a newbie like me, i.e., what to wear and how to prepare for what was increasingly likely to be a huge shock to my body!! After all, it was going to be bloody cold and there’s no lifeguard!

Firstly, the gear then; with the advice that you need to protect your extremities, I hastily ordered a rather snug fitting swimming cap that makes me look like I’ve been subjected to a rather shoddy facelift, neoprene swimming boots/socks and gloves, a flask for a hot drink and plenty of warm clothing. (It was recommended that the game changer is a dry robe…but at £100 plus I held fire for now – after all I might hate it!).

Additionally, it was recommended that I partake of a brief cold shower every morning to train for the inevitable shock to the system heading my way! If that was anything to go by, I was certainly going to be squealing like a baby!

Further crucial tips included letting someone know where you’re going and when you’ll be back, though the stronger advice was to not go alone. Also, to keep an eye out for hazards, don’t go too far from the shore to avoid being disorientated, know the area and be aware of what the tides are doing. The last piece of advice was one that, when it came to taking the dip, I wish I’d taken more notice of! Namely, build up your resilience, starting with no more than three to four minutes in the water on my first visit.

The day of reckoning arrived, and I’d agreed to join my good friend, Guy Lloyd (who’s been sea swimming for three years) on Brighton beach just off Madeira Drive at 6.45am. It was dark, with a stunning sunrise appearing on the horizon, however what surprised me was how many other people there were, in various groups or on their own doing the same thing - I counted at least fifteen! Guy was late and already being nervous, I decided to brave it on my own. Stripped off and donning the appropriate protection, I took my first few careful steps…when a freezing wave nearly sent me flying! I simply decided to get on with it, dived in, swam around for about a minute or two and began to get out just as Guy appeared. I went back in with him for a few more minutes and then started to come out again. Feeling like it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be, I happily returned to the water, again for another two. BIG MISTAKE! I definitely should have stayed out after the second visit because what ensued was a delayed reaction from my body!

Whilst hastily attempting to get dressed, I encountered uncontrollable shaking and shivering, fell over on the stones trying to take my wet boots off and found it so incredibly cold that I could hardly get my flask open to imbibe a much-needed hot drink! If you’ve ever attempted this when you’re freezing cold, (being tall and skinny) picture a giraffe with the DT’s, juggling!!

Eventually, with layers of clothing back in place, and teeth continually chattering away like a crazed monkey, I made my way to the car and sat there with the heater on full blast at twenty-seven degrees for at least half an hour!

So, how did I feel? My overriding emotion was one of being invigorated with a great sense of release (I hope that wasn’t as a consequence of losing bowl control!?) …will I do it again? Absolutely, just allow me a couple of days to recover and next time I won’t stay in so long!

Special thanks for their advice and contributions go to Ellie Talebian, Guy Lloyd, Lisa Ollerton and James Johnson.

To boo…or not to boo, that is the question?!

Over the last year or so, I’ve noticed a gradual increase in supporters’ audible condemnation of their team’s or specific player’s performance and I’m not just talking at football where it appears most prevalent.

General voicing of disapproval can be heard at tennis, cricket (booing of Australians David Warner and Steve Smith for being found guilty of ball tampering), and even Formula One with Lewis Hamilton being jeered after a controversial first lap incident with eventual World Champion Max Verstappen at the British Grand Prix. But is it acceptable? The simple answer is yes IF you’re trying to intimidate the opposing team or player, but as any true sports fan knows, often this has the opposite effect and normally only serves to galvanise the opposition into giving an extra ten or twenty per cent. Is it worth it then to boo your own team, like Brighton fans after a recent 0-0 draw with Leeds? Does it make sense to use this potentially harmful expression of discontent against someone you support? Some will argue that you pay your entry ticket and, in many cases, have some form of hospitality, at let’s face it, exorbitant prices, so surely have the right to express what they think of the entertainment/performance! Booing is largely based on frustration and anger and a chance for fans to display their utter contempt for a team or player’s failure. Acceptable if said professional sportsperson doesn’t appear to be giving their all for the cause and amplified by knowledge of the vast sums that they earn compared to what most of us can only fantasise about. However, if they’ve performed out of their skins and clearly put in 110%, then I for one think booing is completely unacceptable. At last year’s Euro 2020 tournament, much was written about England fans booing players taking the knee in their stand against racism and I’m certainly not going to defend this or use this platform to discuss this, but suffice it to say I’m absolutely delighted, along with most self-respecting citizens that any booing of the players’ stand against racism has dissipated, having been significantly replaced by unanimous applause and support.

Sports

Therefore, is booing something that needs to be eradicated, or do we as fans and professional sports people themselves just have to accept it as part and parcel of the game. I certainly don’t think it’s going away anytime soon and clearly deserved if someone is not ‘sweating blood’ for the cause but a line must be drawn when it becomes vitriolic and personal abuse, particularly if it’s nothing to do with the sport in question. However, in closing, spare a thought for the booing/abuse that is directed at the referees, umpires and match officials. No? Okay, maybe we’ll save that discussion for another time and don’t even get me started on VAR!

Hurstpierpoint College - Recognising the physical and mental value of sport

Rob Kift, Director of Sport at Hurst College, speaks to Sussex Business Times about his department’s continuing drive to ensure that each pupil develops a lifelong love of sport.

“In 2020, we were delighted to win the Sporting Achievement Award in the Independent Schools of the Year, because of our focus for recognising the physical and mental value of sport and sharing the benefits with the wider community, including the children of key workers during lockdown. The physical and mental wellbeing of pupils is central to Hurst’s sports offering and equal attention is given to those who simply want to participate, as well as the elite performers. The ambition is to create an activity diet that engages all pupils in an enjoyable, challenging and meaningful way, through traditional team and individual sports and outdoor pursuits, and to encourage a healthy, active lifestyle. We also offer a unique player welfare programme, with qualified physiotherapists who triage, monitor injuries and support rehabilitation in conjunction with strength and conditioning coaches. Our philosophy has always been the importance of sport for all, which not only includes our own students and staff, but also other schools and organisations in our local community. Our extensive facilities and a sustained programme of development play a significant role in providing a broad range of activities, creating community initiatives and hosting sports events. The college has forged strong links with maintained schools by hosting development days, as well as being a hub for Surrey Storm Netball South and Sussex County Cricket academies, a feeder for the Harlequins Rugby Development Programme and the base for Sussex Hockey. With the unprecedented circumstances surrounding Covid-19, the Sports Department responded to the unique challenges of remote learning by implementing alternative ways of engagement and successfully delivered a comprehensive programme, including on-site options for children of key workers. As such, people became much more aware of their physical and mental wellbeing while we remained proactive, providing daily coaching videos online so that our pupils were encouraged to get involved physically. The priority has been for pupils to be outside in the fresh air as much as possible, challenging us to be inventive

and utilise our facilities to their best advantage. The requirement for them to Sports be in year group bubbles added to the problem, but we overcame this with the introduction of temporary facilities such as a golf driving range and a marquee to house aerobics and spin classes. Whilst matches against other schools were suspended, more in house competitions were introduced as an alternative. Under normal circumstances, our carefully crafted development programme has consistently delivered success at regional and national competitions and also taught pupils important life skills along the way. We continually strive to establish a reputation for the quality, breadth and inclusivity of our sporting provision, but also for the passion and commitment of our talented hardworking team who ensure that each pupil develops a lifelong love of sport and physical activity. This summer we will organise a London School’s Athletic Day which will give many local schools the chance to compete and experience sport at Hurst.”

For further information please call 01273 836937 www.hppc.co.uk

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ASK THE EXPERT

HOW PROCESS DOCUMENTATION CREATES A HIGH PERFORMING BUSINESS

BY MAP YOUR PROCESS

THE POWER OF LISTENING SKILLS

IF WE ALL LISTENED MORE, I’M SURE THERE WOULD BE LESS CONFLICT IN THE WORLD

SBT ASK THE EXPERT SPONSORED BY:

How Process Documentation

creates a high performing business

Businesses often consider process mapping, business process management, and associated improvements as ‘big business’ solutions that are either inappropriate or simply unaffordable for most smaller companies. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Companies of all sizes cannot only benefit from documenting their business processes but receive immediate rewards for doing so. Understanding exactly how your key business processes are performed can provide great insight into how the overall business operates. Acting on those findings can actually be easier in a smaller company that is more agile in its decision making and subsequent actions. Specialist mapping software has also become far more affordable, offering the opportunity of ‘big business’ solutions to organisations of any size. The most immediate benefit from documenting your processes is to create clarity and begin to instill consistency in your ways of working. Process maps allow you to find out how tasks and activities are truly executed within the business. This is because how people think they are performed, how they should be performed, or even how you want them to be performed rarely align with the current real-life way of working (also known as the “as-is process”). If the as-is process has not been examined and documented, there is a risk that assumptions are being made that distort the true picture of operational efficiency and risk. This understanding of the current state helps to inform and create consistent ways of working. Inconsistent business

processes lead to unmanaged risks, Ask the Expert the provision of unbilled services to customers, and inefficient decisionmaking, to name but a few of the challenges that arise. Consistent working methods eliminate confusion, ensure that risks are correctly managed, and help customers receive the same product/ service no matter who is providing it. Meaningful process documentation shouldn’t just be about boxes and arrows, or text-heavy documentation that simply gathers dust. Process documentation is the gateway to delivering tangible improvements in your business. Process management helps businesses to make quicker, informed decisions as they can base them on facts and not anecdotal evidence or unfounded assumptions.

With that in mind, let’s look at some of the other ways it can help drive transformative outcomes in SMEs:

Remove key person dependencies.

This is where processes are only ‘mapped’ in the heads of a number of key employees. If they become ill or leave the company suddenly, that knowledge is not only inaccessible but may have been lost permanently.

Identify inefficiencies and duplication of effort.

With documented processes, opportunities for streamlining them become evident. Duplication of effort and the presence of non-value adding activities are swiftly identified and eliminated.

Reduce processing costs.

Many businesses do not know what it costs to deliver their service or product. Transparent business processes allow you to calculate that cost, as well as address the cost of errors and other inefficiencies.

Understand and manage risk points.

By understanding where risk exists, you can also ensure the relevant controls and escalations are put in place. Risks that may not otherwise be apparent can remain uncontrolled and unmitigated.

Build a base for change.

The availability of accurate, up-todate process documentation can have a hugely beneficial impact on project management. A lack of clarity around exactly what is being changed can lead to missed information – or misinformation – with workarounds required once the project has finished and in extreme cases, fail to deliver the intended benefits.

Create effective staff training

Having agreed, accessible processes in place quickly builds up a resource that forms part of a new starters training. They can also be used to drive crosstraining within a business, allowing additional cover in instances of staff absence or busy periods for teams.

Prepare for sale.

Our research shows that businesses without clearly defined processes in place may expect a reduction in valuation of up to 20%. In the worst cases, it can result in the business owner not being able to exit within their desired timescale, because buyers want to buy the business, not the knowledge of one or two individuals.

This is not an exhaustive list but highlights some of the challenges we are most often asked to address as well as some of the opportunities that come from simply having effective process documentation.

About Us

Many businesses either lack the specific expertise or find it difficult to regularly free-up resources from the day-to-day business requirements to look at process improvement. At Map Your Process, we work with our clients to help them identify and deliver these opportunities to create high performing businesses. A typical engagement often starts with us helping them to document their processes. Our independence means that we can approach this objectively, and quickly create a clear view of their ways of working. If a client already has quality documentation in place, we will work with this and help them to begin to drive out improved ways of working. Our clients have ranged in size from three to over a hundred employees, as well as being across multiple sectors.

If you would like to find out more about how we can help your business, then please contact us at

enquiries@mapyourprocess.co.uk

or on 01403 458138.

The power of listening skills

Sadly, Listening Skills are not taught at school and unless your profession requires it or you have personal interest, you might never really learn how to listen properly. Or at least understand the power of it.

Ask the Expert

Yet, if we all listened more, I’m sure there would be less conflict in the world.

Before you can start listening, you need to be aware of potential barriers. From external distractions like looking at a phone, noise, sound which could be music, but even what other people might be thinking, to perhaps more distracting internal chat in your own mind. Thinking of your agenda, having judgments about the person or what they are saying, thinking that you know better, because ‘you’ve been there, done that’ and so you know exactly what is going on for the other person. Your state of mind and your own problems can also distract you as can your emotions if the topic has triggered strong response or reminded you of something that happened in the past. The truth, we can never fully understand what someone is going though even if you have been in a similar situation yourself. And the best you can do is to listen. Practice minimising any distractions and remember that whenever you’re opening a conversation that might be difficult or emotional, make it about the other person. Not you.

Pay attention not only to the words they’re saying but also to the emotions behind them. To trembling noise when they push back their tears. Listen out for pauses, not to fill them with your own story but to understand that there is a lot of thinking going on. When you give someone space to talk, you’re giving them the opportunity to hear their own story. This might be the first time to they are able to say what they need from start to finish and make sense of what is going on. Interrupting them, by proving solutions or giving advice, as you can see, might not be as helpful as we’d like.

To help you not jump in with your own story, ask questions to find out more but also to clarify the information you’ve just heard. Ask open questions which encourage fuller answers, not just one word ‘yes’ or ‘no’. And then…. listen.

If there is a long silence and the other person asks, why are you not saying anything, simply tell them that you’re giving them time and space to think and say what’s on their mind.

If I could choose the most important message, it would be: You don’t need to have an answer for everything. Just listening to someone without judgment can make a massive difference.