Growing sports for all

Lisa Wainwright CEO Sport and Recreation Alliance

In November last year the Department for Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee announced an Inquiry into community and school sport. The purpose behind the Inquiry is to take a deep dive into examining the overall health of sport in both our local communities and schools but just as importantly, whether more can be done to grow sporting opportunities for all. As the CEO for the Sport and Recreation Alliance, I was delighted to be invited by the Committee to give evidence to the Inquiry in Parliament. Not only was it a great opportunity to present solutions to some of the questions being posed by the Committee, especially on how to improve funding streams for our members, support our volunteers, protect our green and blue spaces and reduce the tax and regulatory burden on the sector, but in doing so, highlighting some of the excellent work of our members already taking place in schools and communities across the country. For example, these include - but are certainly not limited to - the England and Wales Cricket Board’s work with partners in developing the hugely successful Bradford Park Avenue Cricket Dome facility and Swim England’s excellent Learn to Swim programme.

On whether more could and should be done to grow sporting opportunities for all, the answer is a resounding yes. We already know the enormous economic and social value of the sector and the contribution it can make in driving economic growth and reducing pressure on the NHS. But research shows that the UK is a relatively inactive nation, ranking 11 out of 15 among comparable European nations. As I explained to the Committee, by matching the best performing nations, we could generate a further £1bn in healthcare savings, £3.5bn in GDP and £70bn in wellbeing benefits.

By matching the best-performing nations, we could generate £1bn in healthcare savings, £3.5bn in GDP, and £70bn in wellbeing benefits

To do so, and in a final point I made to the Committee, we need the Government to urgently bring forward a bold and ambitious strategy for the sector, leveraging the policy levers across all Government departments in Whitehall while ensuring that in the Spending Review, due to conclude in June, core funding is protected through the Department for Culture, Media & Sport and arms-length bodies.

The Alliance will continue to press the best possible case for the sector – and our members – within Government and beyond to help make sure we foster a more active, healthier nation and in doing so, making it easier for everyone – regardless of age or background – to participate in sport, recreation, dance and physical activity.