Blog
This week, StreetGames is saying a heartfelt thank you and farewell to John Cove, who is stepping down as Chair of the StreetGames Board after eight years of outstanding leadership and service.
John’s time with StreetGames has been characterised by a deep commitment to the power of sport and its potential to transform young lives. Since his early days as a play/youth worker in North London, John has been deeply dedicated to supporting young people and creating opportunities for them to thrive. That dedication has been a guiding force throughout his career – from his leadership work in local government with Milton Keynes Council, to his voluntary role within the education sector, and being selected as a Sport England Regional Champion for London 2012, to leading a professional football club – and it has been at the heart of his impact at StreetGames.
As Chair, John has played a pivotal role in building and supporting a highly skilled and diverse Board of Trustees. His ability to draw out the strengths of each member and encourage open dialogue has been exemplary. Under his guidance, the Board has given their backing to a wide range of exciting opportunities as well as calmly navigating more challenging periods – not least during the Covid-19 pandemic, when John’s leadership and strategic approach helped to steer the organisation through uncertain times.
John’s breadth of experience across multiple policy areas including play/youth work, education, politics and sport has given him a unique and valuable perspective. His intuitive grasp of the challenges and opportunities in our sector have made him an exceptional Chair, able to lead with both head and heart.
Reflecting on John’s tenure, StreetGames CEO Mark Lawrie OBE said: “If there’s one word that comes to mind regarding John Cove, it’s passion. At StreetGames we have seen this time and time again in two regards in particular: his absolute passion for sport, and for bettering the lives of young people.
“We are deeply grateful for all that he’s brought to StreetGames during his time on the Board. His calm leadership, unique insight and unwavering commitment have been instrumental in shaping our direction and deepening our impact.”
Ahead of his final AGM with the Board, John shared: “As outgoing Chair, I hope that my love of sport has permeated the organisation at every level. I truly believe that our greatest strength is that ‘sport is the beating heart of everything we do’ – not least because it enables us to do so many other things too.
“Adaptability and positive disruption have always been our hallmark at StreetGames. I am confident that whatever challenges arise, those who follow will hold fast to our mission: transforming the lives of young people in low-income communities through sport and physical activity.
“Over the past eight years I’ve worked with many brilliant people, both on the Board and across the staff, all of whom share a common aim. As a result, I know that we’ve helped communities in a way that is the envy of many – and this is something that makes me exceptionally proud.”
As we look to the future, we do so with immense gratitude for John’s contributions and with confidence that his legacy will continue to support our mission for years to come.
