"Rising energy bills will affect the sport and recreation sector" says the Alliance

Energy website uSwitch has claimed this week that energy bills will become unaffordable in three years’ time – news which will spark widespread concern for UK sport and recreation clubs and organisations whose energy costs already eat into their overstretched budgets.

This news follows on from energy giant Centrica’s announcement earlier this month that UK wholesale gas costs will be 15% higher this coming winter than the last – meaning that the UK is set to encounter energy bills at a record high.

Tim Lamb, chief executive of the Sport and Recreation Alliance said: “These recent announcements are further evidence to suggest that energy costs are out of control. Whilst there is a lot of coverage about how this is going to affect domestic consumers, we also need to think about how this is going to impact sport and recreational organisations too.

“Most facility-owning sports clubs who have to pay their own gas, electricity and water bills for example, are not-for-profit organisations and many are already teetering on the edge of survival. And with half of the sports clubs in the UK telling us that they are finding it hard to break even at the moment, this is a big concern.”

Stephen Morgon, Managing Director of Utility Aid said: “As energy consultants who have over ten years of experience working with not-for-profit organisations we are very aware that these latest increases could hit the sector hard – but there are ways that organisations can limit the damage including switching to a cheaper energy tariff before the winter months kick in.

“We know that many organisations don’t have the time or the resources to look into switching to cheaper energy providers and that there is also a deep mistrust around price transparency and the complexity of different tariffs – but there is free and expert advice out there.”

In order to respond to the needs of the sport and recreation sector, umbrella body the Sport and Recreation Alliance has teamed up with Utility Aid to provide Energy 4 Sport & Recreation – an energy-saving scheme designed with sport and recreational organisations specifically in mind.

To find out more about the scheme and how to get free and simple energy saving advice, visit the Energy 4 Sport website or call Freephone 0808 1788 170.