Cricket’s recent journey has reminded us of something important: the heart of any sport isn’t found in policies or strategies; it’s found in people’s everyday experiences. In how safe they feel, whether they belong, and whether their voice carries the same weight as everyone else’s.
When stories emerged from across cricket, the sport didn’t turn away. It chose to listen. It chose reflection over defensiveness. It decided to open its doors to independent insight, not because it had all the answers, but because it wanted to understand the questions better.
There is something deeply human about that choice.
Every sport, every organisation, carries layers of history, habits, hopes, and blind spots. Culture isn’t built in a workshop or a meeting. It grows quietly, in tone, in trust, in the tiny moments that shape how people feel. Unless we pause to check in, really check in, we can miss what’s happening beneath the surface.
Cricket’s journey shows us the value of stepping back with honesty and care. It’s a reminder that culture deserves attention even when nothing seems as though it's wrong. This can be a perfect opportunity to have a check-up.
Independent culture check-ups aren’t about exposing fault; they’re about understanding people, they’re about hearing what is whispered, not just what is spoken. They’re about creating the right conditions for belonging to deepen, not fracture. That is something every sport can reflect on.
So, here’s the gentle invitation - take a moment to ask yourself:
Do we truly know how people experience our environment? Do they feel safe? Included? Valued? Heard?
If you’re unsure, that’s not a sign of weakness. It’s an opportunity, a starting point, a moment to lean in and learn about your people.
We’ve learned from our work across sport that when organisations make space for honest insight, relationships strengthen, trust grows, people feel seen, and culture becomes something you shape with purpose, not something that simply happens.
We’re here if you ever want support on that journey, but the choice, the timing, the direction… that’s entirely yours.
Sometimes, the most powerful step you can take is simply deciding to look inward.
This blog was written by Jo Pilgrim, Director of Development at Sport Structures. Please feel free to reach out to Jo on LinkedIn or by commenting on this newsletter.