Alliance responds to DCMS Select Committee’s “Game On” Inquiry report

We welcome the publication of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s “Game On: Community and School Sport” report, which identifies a series of recommendations to government to strengthen grassroots sport and physical activity.

The report draws on extensive sector input including oral evidence from the Alliance’s Chief Executive, Lisa Wainwright MBE, and the Alliance’s written submission, both of which highlighted the urgent need for greater investment and a coherent long term strategy alongside short-term action to protect sport in the planning system, boost PE and school sport and mitigate the impact of rising business rates.

The Committee also referenced the Alliance’s international comparison research, which shows the UK is falling behind comparable nations. The Alliance’s research highlights that the UK ranks joint 11th out of 15 European comparator countries for activity levels, while facing high health and economic costs linked to inactivity.

A number of the recommendations in the report strongly reflect the evidence the Alliance provided on behalf of members, in particular:

• Increase Government investment in sport and recreation by nearly £4 billion over the next ten years, bringing the UK closer to international comparators and recognising the significant return on investment in health, wellbeing and economic growth.
• Maintain Sport England’s role as a statutory consultee in planning applications, helping to safeguard sport and physical activity in planning decisions.
• Ensure sustained funding for PE and school sport across Government, reflecting its vital role in children’s physical and mental health and development.
• Review the impact of business rates reforms on the sport and recreation sector, alongside identifying further financial support measures.
• Introduce targeted measures to support volunteers and reduce administrative burdens, recognising their essential role in delivering sport and recreation nationwide.
• Develop a coherent, cross-government strategy for sport and physical activity, providing long-term vision and coordination across departments.

Commenting on the report, Alliance CEO Lisa Wainwright MBE said:

“We welcomed the opportunity to contribute both written and oral evidence to the inquiry last year and thank the Committee for its work in producing this comprehensive report.

It is encouraging to see many of our recommendations reflected in its findings. Our research shows the UK is currently lagging behind comparable nations on activity levels, with important implications for public health and the economy. This report therefore provides a valuable foundation for progress.

We particularly welcome the explicit recommendation to maintain Sport England's statutory consultee role - something we have campaigned hard for over the last year - and the calls to maintain investment in PE and school sport and assess the impact of rising business rates on sport.

We stand ready to work with the Government, our National Governing Bodies and our wider members and partners to ensure these recommendations are taken forward given the important role they will play in tackling inactivity, easing pressure on public services, and unlocking the wider social and economic benefits of sport and recreation.”

The Sport and Recreation Alliance will review the report in detail and provide further briefing as required in due course.

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