COMMUNITY COMMISSION CHAIR AND MEMBERS: CANDIDATE BRIEFING PACK MESSAGE TO CANDIDATES Dear candidate, I’m delighted you're considering joining our new Community Commission. 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 wheelchair rugby and committed to representing the community we encourage you to apply – we would also like to hear from you if you are a leader who will be able to chair the Community Commission and serves as the bridge to GBWR’s board of trustees. Best regards, Jason Brisbane CEO, GB Wheelchair Rugby COMMUNITY COMMISSION CHAIR AND MEMBERS: CANDIDATE BRIEFING PACK | 2 ABOUT GB WHEELCHAIR RUGBY 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 AND MEMBERS: CANDIDATE BRIEFING PACK | 3 Using wheelchair rugby to enrich lives and promote positive perceptions of disability 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. PARTNERSHIPS AND EVENTS COMMITTEE MEMBER: CANDIDATE BRIEFING PACK | 4 THE ROLE We are seeking passionate, dedicated individuals to join 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 a member of the Community Commission, you will: - make a tangible impact on the future of wheelchair rugby in Great Britain; - gain valuable experience influencing decisions at a strategic level; - collaborate with a passionate team and build connections across the community; - and receive GBWR kit as a thank you for your contribution ROLE Members report to the chair of the Community Commission The chair of the Community Commission reports to the CEO REPORTS TO Members report to the chair of the Community Commission The chair of the Community Commission reports to the CEO DEPARTMENT Community and Participation LOCATION Remote (with occasional in-person meetings) TIME COMMITMENT Quarterly meetings, plus additional responsibilities as required EXPENSES AND BENEFITS The role is voluntary however expenses are reimbursed as per the GBWR expenses policy TERM Members will serve a two-year term with the possibility of renewal for two additional terms of two years each The chair will serve a three-year term with the possibility of renewal for two additional terms of three years each ROLE TYPE Voluntary, part-time COMMUNITY COMMISSION CHAIR AND MEMBERS: CANDIDATE BRIEFING PACK | 5 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES As a member of the Community Commission, you will: 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. In addition to the responsibilities above, the chair will: Lead commission meetings and set the agenda for discussions; Serve as the primary liaison between the commission and GBWR’s board od trustees; and Foster a culture of collaboration, respect, and open communication within the commission. COMMUNITY COMMISSION CHAIR AND MEMBERS: CANDIDATE BRIEFING PACK | 6 Skills and experience We welcome applications from individuals who: Are passionate about wheelchair rugby and committed to representing the community; Have experience as a player, coach, volunteer, or supporter within wheelchair rugby (including WR5s or Paralympic formats); Are committed to promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion within the sport; and Have excellent communication and collaboration skills. For the role of chair, we are seeking someone with additional skills in leadership, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement. We are committed to ensuring the commission reflects the rich diversity of the wheelchair rugby community. Applications are encouraged from individuals of all genders, ethnicities, and backgrounds. Personal attributes To be a member of the Community Commission Be a registered GBWR member as of April 1st 2025 Currently in an active role e.g. player, coach, official, volunteer Has not received any formal warnings for conduct from GBWR in the past 18 months For the chair role Experience in advocating for disability sports and representing community interests at various levels Proven experience in leading teams or organizations, 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 Commitment to promoting inclusivity and diversity within the sport and the community COMMUNITY COMMISSION CHAIR AND MEMBERS: CANDIDATE BRIEFING PACK | 7 HOW TO APPLY To apply, please submit: • • • • A CV of no more than two sides of A4; A short statement (no more than 500 words) clearly stating which role you are interested in (chair or member) 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 complete Completed applications should be sent to: nas.al-sabaeiova@gbwr.org.uk by Sunday, 16 November 2025. Please put ‘Community Commission – member’ or ‘Community Commission – chair’ in the subject title. COMMUNITY COMMISSION CHAIR AND MEMBERS: CANDIDATE BRIEFING PACK | 8 RECRUITMENT PROCESS 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 to arrange for the CEO email to speak to you in confidence. nas.al-sabaeiova@gbwr.org.uk COMMUNITY COMMISSION CHAIR AND MEMBERS: CANDIDATE BRIEFING PACK | 9 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST 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 INCLUSION 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. SAFEGUARDING 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 AND MEMBERS: CANDIDATE BRIEFING PACK | 10 CONTACT US Rugby House Twickenham Stadium 200 Whitton Road Twickenham, Middlesex TW2 7BA © Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby, 2025 gbwr.org.uk