Junior Chess in Scotland – Report and Business Plan

August 14, 2007

Executive Summary (pdf)

I have pleasure in presenting the executive summary of the Awards for All funded review on Junior Chess in Scotland . The report was commissioned by Chess Scotland, supported by Robin Harper MSP, and prepared for Chess Scotland by the Frances Benton Consultancy.

This was an extensive undertaking, involving wide consultation and innumerable discussions with many people, including juniors, parents, organisers, schools, local and central government departments and politicians both in Scotland, the UK and internationally. Chess Scotland thanks everyone for their contribution, which were invaluable.

Let me attempt to summarise the review's key points, but do please read the executive summary itself to capture the detail.

The starting point

Chess in Scotland is run virtually exclusively by volunteers. And there aren't ever enough of them. Demands on their time are already at the limit of what they can do and are escalating. If the chess community in Scotland is serious about trying to expand chess in schools, creating more and better schools and junior tournaments, playing an improved and expanded international role and simply trying to get more juniors at all levels involved in the game, we need more money and more professional administration in Scottish chess.

The report's main conclusions and recommendations

The report confirmed that there is a clear demand (including a political demand at national and local levels) for more chess in schools and for more young players to be involved in chess for its educational, social, personal, community and sporting benefits.

The report draws up an ambitious Business Plan, by which this demand might be met over a 5 year period.

It recommends that while the ownership of this Business Plan should lie with Chess Scotland, as the national body for the promotion of the game in Scotland , many, perhaps even most of its elements can be delegated, within partnership arrangements agreed with all parties committed to promoting the junior game.

The report concluded that one of the potentially key partners, particularly in regard to raising funds and driving possible pilot projects, was the current Scottish Junior Chess Association Educational Trust, which already has charitable status and is well-placed to pitch for more funds.

The report recommends that the Trust should:

• fundamentally review its activities and focus, including trustee numbers and structure, so that it can carry out the new and expanded role envisaged

• undertake an immediate application to the Young People's Fund Scotland for funds to employ a Schools / Junior chess Coordinator to work on realising the Year One Business Plan objectives.

Subsequently

The Chess Scotland AGM on 19 th August will provide an early opportunity to discuss the report and early progress against the Business Plan. The SJCA Trust has begun the process of applying to the YPF Scotland and the internal review of its own organisation and structures as described.

Intro Oct 2006

Craig Pritchett

Schools chess development director