What will I learn on this module?
This module provides a comprehensive introduction to the organisational landscape of sport in the UK. You will explore three main sectors delivering sport: the public sector (including local authorities and national Government bodies), the private sector (commercial fitness, professional sport), and the third sector (voluntary clubs, charities, community organisations). The module examines why these different sectors exist, understanding market failure in sport provision, the limits of government delivery, and the unique value of community-owned organisations.
Key topics include organisational structures and legal forms, understanding how being a charity, company, or community interest company shapes what organisations can do; community engagement and access, examining how different sectors serve different populations through varied pricing, locations, and programmes; partnership working and collaboration, exploring why and how organisations from different sectors work together; sector characteristics and operational differences, understanding why a trust run leisure centre operates differently from a private gym or voluntary club; and introduction to international models of sport provision. You will examine how different sectors approach similar challenges differently, understanding the practical implications of sector positioning.
Through researching a sport organisation, combining desk research, with volunteering experience and informal conversations with staff you will gain first-hand experience of how sport organisations operate and serve their communities. You will develop skills in organisational analysis, partnership identification and reflective practice. The module also introduces contemporary issues including cross-sector partnerships and social enterprise in sport preparing you for more advanced study of governance and finance in subsequent years.
How will I learn on this module?
Teaching combines lectures with interactive seminars, workshops and practical fieldwork. Weekly lectures introduce concepts about organisational types, sector differences, and partnership working. Workshops use real examples to explore how different organisations serve communities, with activities like comparing websites, analysing locations, and identifying partnerships.
Your 10-hour applied work is structured as:
• 3 hours desk research: Investigating your chosen organisation online (structure, activities, partnerships)
• 5 hours volunteering: Hands-on experience including informal conversations with staff/volunteers
• 2 hours synthesis: Reflecting on learning and preparing assessment
This applied work provides authentic insight into how organisations operate. You will be supported to find appropriate volunteering opportunities or may use existing volunteer roles with module leader approval.
Seminars facilitate peer learning as you share experiences from different organisational settings. We will provide examples from across sectors to explain different job roles and explain organisational contexts and career paths. Independent study includes researching organisations, preparing for volunteering, and assessment preparation. Digital learning resources on the eLP support your studies, including recorded lectures, industry reports, and interactive materials. Collaborative learning is encouraged through group seminar projects and peer learning activities.
How will I be supported academically on this module?
The module team provides comprehensive academic support throughout your studies. The eLP site contains all module materials, including lecture slides, workshop resources, and assessment guidance. Materials are uploaded in advance to support your preparation and revision.
Your module tutors hold regular office hours for individual consultations and ongoing support for organising your applied work with sport organisations will be provided in taught sessions. Seminar sessions will include dedicated time for assessment preparation and feedback. A structured applied portfolio guides your organisational research and field experience, with clear learning objectives and analytical frameworks.
Formative feedback opportunities are embedded throughout, including practice organisational analyses and peer review sessions. The module team provides detailed written feedback on summative assessments, with opportunities for one-to-one feedback tutorials.
University Library services offer additional support for academic skills development, research methods, and referencing. Career services provide guidance on using your learning for future employment applications.
What will I be expected to read on this module?
All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)
What will I be expected to achieve?
Knowledge & Understanding:
• Identify and explain the characteristics of public, private and third sector sport organisations and why these different sectors exist
• Describe how legal structures and sector positioning influence what sport organisations can do and who they serve
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• Compare organisational approaches to community engagement across different sectors
• Identify partnership relationships and explain why organisations work together
Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• Reflect on personal learning from applied work to identify preferred career paths in sport
How will I be assessed?
Summative Assessment: You will complete a organisational analysis portfolio (1800 words total, 100% weighting) addressing all module learning outcomes.
The portfolio assessment using a structured template comprises:
Part A: Organisational Comparison
You will compare TWO organisations from different sectors examining:
• Organisational type and structure
• Who they serve and how they engage communities
• Key partnerships and why they exist
• How sector positioning shapes their approach (275 words)
(Addresses MLOs 1, 2, 3, 4)
Part B: Applied Learning Reflection
Structured reflection on your volunteering experience:
• Key insights about the organisation and sector learnt through your volunteering
• Implications for your career interests (Addresses MLO 5)
Formative Assessment:
• Practice organisational comparison exercise
• Volunteering preparation checklist
• Draft reflection with peer feedback
Written feedback (via rubric and qualitative comments) will be provided within 20 working days of submission.
Module abstract
Sport in the UK operates through a complex ecosystem of public, private, and third sector organisations, each playing vital roles in delivering sport and physical activity opportunities to communities. This module introduces you to the organisational landscape of sport, exploring why different sectors exist, how they operate, and how they work together to deliver sporting opportunities. You will examine the fundamental differences between local authority provision, commercial operators, and voluntary organisations, understanding how legal structures and sector positioning shape what organisations can do and who they serve. You will explore how local authorities, commercial operators, voluntary sports clubs, and charitable organisations work both independently and collaboratively to create sporting opportunities. Through 10 hours of applied learning, combining desk research with volunteering experience, you will gain first-hand insight into how sport organisations engage with communities and work in partnership with others. This module emphasises understanding organisational contexts, preparing you for more advanced study of finance, governance, and management in later years. You will develop skills in organisational analysis, partnership identification, and reflective practice whilst exploring potential career paths across the sport sector. By understanding why organisations operate differently across sectors, you will be better prepared to navigate the diverse employment opportunities in sport.
