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Public and External Affairs Advisory Panel

BASES champions the development and practice of Sport and Exercise Science by proactively acting to influence policy issues. We aim to ensure that the views of our membership are represented for relevant policymakers’ consideration.

Through the Public and External Affairs Advisory Panel, the Board of BASES will ensure key policymakers are provided with rigorous evidence, timely advice and are aware of the views, concerns, research, and evidence-based practice of our membership.

The purpose of the Public and External Affairs Advisory Panel is to ensure the Board can respond to consultations through a unified voice when informing Government and other agencies.

Examples of the types of work the Panel has been involved in during its formation include writing to Vice Chancellors about delivering Sport and Exercise Science during the Pandemic, providing evidence to Parliamentary Select Committees on sport, and helping to give feedback to the Office for Students on their experimental ‘Proceed measure’. These, and other initiatives, have already resulted in raising the profile of the Association and ensuring our voice is heard by key decision makers.

Overview from the Chair, Dr Andy Smith FBASES MBE

As the Founding Chair of the Public and External Affairs Advisory Panel (PEA-AP), I have had the privilege of working with an outstanding Team of volunteers to further the aims of the Association. In short, the purpose of the Panel is to:

1. Further the interests of Sport and Exercise Science by influencing policy makers.

2. Ensure policy makers have access to rigorous evidence and research when they make decisions.

3. Enable the Board to respond to government consultations.

This is complex and, at times, difficult work, the benefits of which will often only accrue in the long term. Our approach to this task has been to take the long-term view and to learn and build capacity and capability as we progress. In our first year, we have ‘built the bike as we rode it’ meaning that whilst creating systems and processes we have also energetically engaged with external stakeholders.

Contact

The Panel would like to hear from you at any point if you have a suggestion on

who we should be lobbying, and
any policy issues the Association should be championing in the ‘public square’.

You can contact the Panel by emailing the BASES Executive Director, Ian Wilson, iwilson@bases.org.uk marking the email “Suggestions for the BASES Public and External Affairs Advisory Panel”.

Meet the Public and External Affairs Advisory Panel

Dr Andy Smith MBE FBASES

Chair

Prof David Broom FBASES

Member

Dr Rita de Oliveira

Member

Prof John Dickinson FBASES

Member

Dr Mark Faghy

Member

Prof Charlie Foster OBE

Member

Dr Matthew Green

Member

Dr Neil Maxwell FBASES

Member

Dr Mark Ross

Member

Dr Lauren Struszczak

Member

Workstream Examples

Workstream 1 - Office for Students

Over the first year of the PEA-AP this work was led by Dr Neil Maxwell FBASES and Dr Mark Ross.

In our foundation year, this work was important because the Office for Students is the regulator for Higher Education and its work has a direct impact on many of our members and all students of Sport and Exercise Science.

Through this workstream we have consulted on the new strategy of the Office for Students. Importantly we have also commented on the Office for Students work on their ‘PROCEED data’ which seeks to measure student retention and graduate outcomes. In doing this work, the PEA-AP has worked closely with colleagues in the BASES Education and Teaching SIG with whom a strong working relationship has developed.

Going forward it is envisaged that the PEA-AP will continue to monitor developments from the Office for Students and work with the Education and Teaching SIG to act when appropriate.

Workstream 2 - Developing a strategy for the Panel to help to prioritise its work

Over the first year of the PEA-AP, this work was led by Dr Rita de Olivera and Prof Charlie Foster OBE.

In our foundation year, this work was important to ensure that the work of the Panel had a purposeful direction.

Through this workstream we have developed a closer working relationship with a number of external partners, notably the Science Council. We also have a strategy that directs and focuses our work.

Going forward it is envisaged that our strategy will focus the work of the Panel in one or two key areas. For example, in 2023 this might include making a substantial submission to the Public Inquiry on COVID-19.

Workstream 3 - Parliamentary select committees across all Home Nations

Over the first year of the PEA-AP, this work was led by Prof John Dickinson FBASES and Dr Laureen Struszczak.

In our foundation year, this work was important because it enabled the Association to lobby key policy makers and learn how to influence key decision makers in sport, exercise and science.

In its first year the PEA-AP submitted detailed written evidence to

The DCMS Select Committee on Sport in our Communities
The House of Lords Select Committee on a National Plan for Sport and Recreation.

It is envisaged that in 2023 the PEA-AP will work with members across the Association to submit evidence to the Public Inquiry on COVID-19

Workstream 4 - Major sporting events

Over the first year of the PEA-AP, this work was led by Dr Matt Green and Prof David Broom FBASES.

In our foundation year, this work was important to ensure that the voice of BASES was heard around issues related to, for example, the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

As a result of work in this area, BASES submitted detailed written evidence to the DCMS Select Committee on Major Sporting Events.

Going forward it is envisaged that the PEA-AP will continue to create opportunities for BASES to shape thinking and action around major sports events.

Workstream 5 - Developing and maintaining a PEA-AP webpage

Over the first year of the PEA-AP, this work was led by Dr Lauren Struszczak and Dr Matt Green.

In our foundation year, this work was important to ensure that the Panel had a way to communicate with the BASES membership and to ensure openness and transparency.

The result of this work is the webpage that you are reading now.