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The BGF Foundation and Fieldfisher are backing Access Sport as we continue to make inclusion the norm in community sport, providing skills-based and needs-based volunteering from the BGF team, alongside specialist legal support from Fieldfisher.

As Access Sport continues to grow, we are scaling both our supporter base and the number of disabled and disadvantaged children and young people we reach through inclusive community sport.

With that growth comes the responsibility to ensure that the systems and processes behind our work are robust, efficient and sustainable.

We want to deliver our communications confidently, consistently and in line with best practice. To support this, the BGF Foundation connected us with BGF Marketing Manager Lucy Wilson for a focused consultation.

The session provided practical reflections on audience segmentation, permissions and engagement, and how to build repeatable processes that don’t add unnecessary burden. It recognised the realities many charities face - where capacity is tight and specialist roles are limited, but expectations and responsibilities remain high.

With Lucy’s input, we completed a holistic review of our digital systems and tools and began shaping a clear set of actions to strengthen our approach to audience engagement. A follow-up conversation is planned to sense-check next steps, reflecting a commitment to continued support as projects develop, not just one-off conversations.

Lucy Wilson, Marketing Manager at BGF, said:

“Access Sport’s team are doing vital work to create more inclusive opportunities for young people in sport, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to support them in any way that I can. From a marketing perspective, they’re facing the same challenges and growing pains that many SMEs face, as they scale. I was able to share my own learnings and practical guidance, and I’m looking forward to continuing the conversation and offering further support, as their needs evolve.”

This followed an independent digital review carried out by BGF IT Manager Adam Cox, which immediately helped us free up budget and gain confidence around our IT costs.

For us, this work on digital readiness sits alongside the specialist legal, compliance and business services support being provided by Fieldfisher. Fieldfisher is a European law firm with market-leading practices, including technology and financial services, and a strong commitment to responsible business and ESG.

Fieldfisher’s pro bono and community impact team, Just Purpose, previously came together with the BGF Foundation to share insights on what good skills-based support looks like in practice. They discussed the value of needs-led volunteering, the importance of trust and clarity, and the impact pro bono work can have in supporting a charity’s growth.

Fieldfisher’s partnership with us sits at the heart of the firm’s Just Purpose strategy, reflecting our shared commitment to removing barriers faced by disabled young people and advocating for children’s rights. Through Fieldfisher's One Firm Action initiative, colleagues across the firm have rallied behind Access Sport, not only raising funds but sharing their skills and time through legal and business-related projects. IT and HR teams have delivered learning and development sessions, while lawyers have provided pro bono guidance to review and enhance key organisational policies.

Millie Hawes, Head of Just Purpose at Fieldfisher, said:

“Skilled volunteering like this plays a vital role in strengthening civil society, enabling organisations to access specialist expertise that builds resilience, boosts impact and drives long lasting change.”

This behind-the-scenes work, strengthening systems, governance and processes, is what enables charities like ours to scale safely and amplify long-term impact.

Tom Dixon, Fundraising and Communications Director at Access Sport, said:

“Both organisation’s expertise are invaluable to us, and we really appreciate the effort, energy and enthusiasm that has gone into these projects. With this extra capacity we have been able to improve our processes and become more efficient. This ultimately translates into us being in a better position to positively impact thousands of young lives across the country – so a huge thank you to all involved.”  

Together, BGF and Fieldfisher’s support reflects the kind of partnership many charities need more of:

• Practical, needs-led expertise (rather than what’s easiest for businesses to offer)
• Momentum without extra headcount or budget, through practical actions that are achievable straight away
• Ongoing partnership, helping to embed learning and adapt as plans develop — and reducing gaps or duplication that can occur when multiple partners are involved

Get involved
If your business is interested in providing skills-based support and would like to explore how to get started, please contact the BGF Foundation team at [email protected].