COMMUNITY COMMISSION CHAIR

COMMUNITY
COMMISSION
CHAIR: CANDIDATE
BRIEFING PAC

MESSAGE TO CANDIDATE

Dear candidate,

I’m delighted you're considering chairing our new Community Commission, the members of which were appointed earlier this year. This is an
incredibly exciting opportunity to play a vital role in shaping the future of wheelchair rugby in Great Britain. We are committed to creating an
inclusive and supportive environment for everyone involved in the sport, from players to coaches, volunteers, and fans. To ensure the voices of the

wheelchair rugby community are heard, we are forming a Community Commission that will represent the views of the membership,

bring forward challenges and opportunities, and provide valuable insight to help shape the direction of GBWR at the highest level.

At GB Wheelchair Rugby, we're passionate about ensuring that anyone who can benefit from our sport has the chance to do so.

Our priorities for the coming years are ambitious and impactful. We're dedicated to recruiting classifiable players, building a robust

pathway for wheelchair rugby fives, and rolling out our new coaching qualification to empower more individuals to lead the sport.

We also have a strong focus on increasing the participation of women and girls and those from diverse ethnic communities within

wheelchair rugby. We also have a real drive to bring wheelchair rugby into everyday conversations and elevating its profile.

You’ll be joining an experienced and dedicated team, all incredibly passionate about wheelchair rugby

and committed to making a real difference. We believe in the transformative power of sport, and the

Community Commission will be central to representing the GBWR community. If you are passionate about

sport and committed to representing the wheelchair rugby we encourage you to apply.

Best regards,

Jason Brisbane

CEO, GB Wheelchair Rugb

COMMUNITY COMMISSION CHAIR: CANDIDATE BRIEFING PAC

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ABOUT GB WHEELCHAIR RUGB

The GB national team took the gold medal at the Tokyo 2020
Paralympic Games – the first medal of any colour for a European
nation. The team has also secured gold at the European
Championship a record total of seven times since 1995.

GBWR activities are funded through a mix of government, National
Lottery, commercial, and philanthropic funding. UK Sport has
recognised the achievement of the GB national team, with GBWR
being in receipt of £3.2M for the LA 2028 cycle. Sport England has
also recognised the success of GBWR, with annual awards totalling
£0.5M to support grassroots and talent delivery

Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby (GBWR) is the national governing
body for the game of wheelchair rugby in England, Scotland, and
Wales, is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee,
and is a full member of World Wheelchair Rugby (WWR) and of the
British Paralympic Association (BPA).

In the last ten years, GBWR has grown the paralympic discipline of
the sport from a domestic league with a single division comprised of
seven teams, to one which now has three leagues providing
competition opportunities for 22 teams. The domestic league is
internationally recognised for its high level of competition, where it
regularly sees international players from Europe joining domestic
teams and strengthening the level of competition.

In the last five years, GBWR has developed a new discipline of the
game aimed at attracting those with greater functionality than the
Paralympic discipline permits. Wheelchair rugby fives allows us to
reach more people with wheelchair rugby. Although in its infancy,
the discipline has proved popular with new teams developing across
the country, and more recently has seen international growth
through WWR. With the development of wheelchair rugby fives

and the Paralympic discipline, GBWR has grown and now supports
35 clubs across England, Scotland, and Wales

COMMUNITY COMMISSION CHAIR: CANDIDATE BRIEFING PAC

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Using wheelchair rugby to enrich
lives and promote positive
perceptions of disabilit

Everyone involved with GBWR is expected to follow the core values of our sport

Enjoyment

We want everyone who includes wheelchair rugby in their lives, whether as a
player, a member of staff, an official or a volunteer, to love everything about the
sport: the excitement, its contact, and the feeling of belonging to a community

Respect

People involved with the game and all whom comes into contact with the sport
have respect for one another

Excellence

Everyone involved will strive to be the best at everything they do

Inclusiveness

Wheelchair rugby is open to anyone who shares our values of the sport. People will
help each other to reach their goals: treating them fairly and equally

Trust

The wheelchair rugby family believes in honesty, integrity, and fair play

Teamwork

All those in wheelchair rugby are part of a team and part of the wheelchair

rugby family

COMMUNITY COMMISSION CHAIR: CANDIDATE BRIEFING PAC

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THE ROL

We are seeking passionate, dedicated individual to chair the inaugural GB Wheelchair Rugby Community
Commission. This is an exciting opportunity to play a vital role in shaping the future of wheelchair rugby in Great
Britain. By becoming the chair of the Community Commission, you will:

-               make a tangible impact on the future of wheelchair rugby in Great Britain;

-               influence decisions at a strategic level;

-               collaborate with a passionate team of GBWR members and build connections across the community; and

-               receive GBWR kit as a thank you for your contribution

ROL

The chair of the Community Commissio

REPORTS T

To the CEO

DEPARTMEN

Community and Participatio

LOCATIO

Remote (with occasional in-person meetings

TIME COMMITMEN

Quarterly meetings, plus additional responsibilities as require

EXPENSES

AND BENEFIT

The role is voluntary however expenses are
reimbursed as per the GBWR expenses polic

TER

The chair will serve a three-year term with the possibility

of renewal for two additional terms of three years eac

ROLE TYP

Voluntary, part-tim

COMMUNITY COMMISSION CHAIR: CANDIDATE BRIEFING PAC

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KEY RESPONSIBILITIE

As the chair of the Community Commission, you will:

Lead commission meetings and set the agenda for discussions;

Serve as the primary liaison between the commission and GBWR’s board of
trustees;

Foster a culture of collaboration, respect, and open communication within
the commission;

Represent the views and concerns of the GBWR community, including
players, coaches, volunteers, and wider stakeholders;

Ensure that a diverse range of voices, including underrepresented groups,
are heard and considered in decision making;

Provide feedback and advice on challenges and opportunities within the
wheelchair rugby community;

Act as a bridge between the community and the GBWR Board, raising key
issues at board level; and

Work collaboratively to support the development and inclusivity of the sport

COMMUNITY COMMISSION CHAIR: CANDIDATE BRIEFING PAC

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Skills and experienc

We welcome applications from individuals who:

Have skills in leadership, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement;

Are passionate about sport and committed to representing the wheelchair rugby community;

Are committed to promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion within the sport;

Previous experience in chairing or being a committee lead; and

Have excellent communication and collaboration skills.

Applications are encouraged from individuals of all genders, ethnicities, and backgrounds

Personal attribute

Proven experience in leading teams or organisations, with the ability to inspire and motivate others;

Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively convey ideas and engage with stakeholders;

Skills in mediating and resolving conflicts within the community; and

Commitment to promoting inclusivity and diversity within the sport and the community

DESIRABL

Experience in advocating for disability sports and representing community interests at various level

COMMUNITY COMMISSION CHAIR: CANDIDATE BRIEFING PAC

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HOW TO
APPL

To apply, please submit

•

•

•

A CV of no more than two sides of A4;

A short statement (no more than 500 words) explaining why you are
interested in the role and how you can contribute to the Community
Commission

Names and contact details, including email addresses, for two referees and
in what capacity you know them; and

A completed diversity monitoring form: click here to complet

Completed applications should be sent to: nas.al-sabaeiova@gbwr.org.uk

by Monday, 6 April 2026. Please put ‘Community Commission – chair’ in the
subject title.

COMMUNITY COMMISSION CHAIR: CANDIDATE BRIEFING PAC

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RECRUITMENT
PROCES

In order to shortlist, GBWR will assess each application against
the person specification and select who to invite for interview.

Further details about the date(s) and format of the interview
will be provided to shortlisted candidates.

References will be taken up for the successful candidates.

If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please
email nas.al-sabaeiova@gbwr.org.uk to arrange for the CEO

to speak to you in confidence.

COMMUNITY COMMISSION CHAIR: CANDIDATE BRIEFING PAC

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CONFLICTS OF
INTERES

You must provide details in your supporting statement if you have any
interests that might be relevant to the work of GBWR and which could
lead to a real or perceived conflict of interest should you be appointed

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY,
AND INCLUSIO

GBWR is an equal opportunities organisation and we welcome applications
from all suitably qualified and experienced people regardless of race,
religion/belief, gender, gender reassignment, disability, sexual orientation,
age, marital/civil partnership status, or pregnancy/maternity

SAFEGUARDIN

GBWR is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
and adults. GBWR expects all staff, volunteers, and participants to share
this commitment. GBWR believes it is everyone’s responsibility to promote
the welfare of children and adults, to keep them safe, to practice in a way
that protects them, and to be familiar with the processes to report
safeguarding concerns

COMMUNITY COMMISSION CHAIR: CANDIDATE BRIEFING PAC

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CONTACT U

Rugby House

Twickenham Stadium

200 Whitton Road

Twickenham, Middlesex

TW2 7BA

© Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby, 2025

gbwr.org.u