Stage two membership income update

Scottish Hockey will not invoice clubs for the second stage of membership income this year, to reflect the lack of activity clubs have been able to deliver due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, in these unprecedented circumstances, Scottish Hockey faces significant financial challenges and will make several sacrifices to offset the deficit brought by the loss of second stage membership fees.

In November 2020 Scottish Hockey announced a 50% reduction in adult membership to reflect the impact of Covid-19 on adult participation at that time, and help our clubs manage financial strain in these unprecedented circumstances.

Invoicing for membership fees is split over two payments, meaning we collect 50% of membership fees from clubs in November, and 50% in April. With there being no second payment in April Scottish Hockey has had to identify areas where significant savings can be made.

With the unprecedented challenges faced across all sectors, the Scottish Hockey Board’s position is that for the long-term benefit of the sport, Scottish Hockey should run at a ‘breakeven’ position for 2021 and not utilise reserves if possible.

Covid-19 has undoubtedly brought the most challenging set of circumstances sports have ever faced and these sacrifices, although tough, are designed to help clubs and Scottish Hockey through the next stage of the pandemic.

Following the initial lockdown in 2020, sportscotland provided great support by allowing flexibility in their investment into Scottish Hockey. This was helped by the fact that there was no international performance activity from March onwards.

The important change for 2021, in line with our strategic plan and investment agreed with sportscotland, is that we will put significant sportscotland investment into our senior squads as they prepare to compete in European competitions, which have a pathway to World Cup and Commonwealth Games qualification. We will also invest in our GB Elite Development Programme athletes and our U19 squads as they prepare for their delayed European championships.

As a result of investment priority being given to the Scotland senior and U19 squads, our other performance programmes will have a different look for 2021. There will be reductions in funding in the under 15 and 17 Futures Cup programmes, and in the Scotland U21’s programme as our U21 teams have no European event to compete in this year. We will also need to make small additional savings across all aspects within programme delivery in 2021.

We will try to ensure that all our programmes are still able to function, and every athlete in our performance system is still able to participate in a relevant programme so they can continue to progress their development.

We are maximising furlough in line with government guidance. Scottish Hockey staff will remain on flexible furlough, and a Performance Officer will not be employed in 2021. The Performance Officer role became vacant in 2020 and has not been filled to reduce costs. This will see increased work for other Scottish Hockey staff members in order to support our age group and senior squads’ activities, which will prove challenging in the short term.  The Commercial Consultant role we have been using to help generate income into the sport has also ended at the end of January 2021 and will not be renewed this year.

We have successfully delivered many initiatives since lockdown in March such as Club Pledge; Lead the Way; iKnow month; BRAVE; and the Scottish Hockey Membership Engagement Project. We’ve also supported our clubs and members throughout the year with Covid-19 guidance and assistance in very difficult circumstances. Although staff have been on furlough, and will continue to be so, we will continue to support clubs and members as much as possible.

Scottish Hockey CEO David Sweetman said, “We’re facing very challenging circumstances and have had to make tough decisions as a result of the financial strain placed on us by the Covid-19 pandemic. We recognise the lack of activity our clubs have been able to deliver due to the virus, but we hope to be on the pitch again as soon as it’s safe to do so.

“In the meantime we’re still working as hard as possible for our clubs; members; and the sport. We’ll continue to build on the great work that’s been done already this year through iKnow Month; the BRAVE Performance Blueprint; Accreditation; Lead the Way; and Club Pledge. There’s a lot more great work to come in the months ahead.”

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