Sport Waitaki regional co-ordinator Pip Sutton needs sporting bodies to help her to help them.

Pip is organising a Sport and Recreation Workshop for this Monday (October 2) evening, at the North Otago Hockey Pavilion. 

Kiri Pope from RSL (Recreation/Sport/Leisure) Consulting will give a brief update on the Strategic Plan, which will be helpful for any sports clubs eyeing better facilities in the future, Pip said.

Following that, Pip will discuss changes to the Incorporated Societies Act, and welcomes any groups who want to talk “everything and anything” to do with sport. 

“It will be, what do we need? What are sports wanting, you know? Concussion information, coaching courses specific to their sport. It could be schools wanting to know how can they help with that balance better, so that kids don't burn out.

“Do we need strapping courses? Do we want basic first aid? 

“All these sports you know, all these movements, all these groups, they’re kind of doing their thing, but there are heaps of resources out there that we can provide. So what do they need?”

Ideally, mostly for catering purposes, groups will register by emailing Pip at [email protected] or messaging her through Sport Waitaki on Facebook, but if people don't register, she still encourages them to attend.

“Please pop in, even if you say, ‘hey, I can't stay’, you know, ‘I can pop in for half an hour’, or whatever.”

Pip is also keen to get people’s thoughts on the potential of pooling resources, such as the possibility of hiring an administration person who works for a number of clubs or sports. 

“You know, just because people are struggling. Volunteers are hard to find.”

Her experience dealing with a variety of sporting clubs makes it apparent some have better access to help and support than others. She wants to offer help to those groups who might be struggling a bit more.

“I speak to so many people individually, but at the same time I'm like, what does actually everyone need?”