The National Sector Partners Group (NSPG) has written to the Prime Minister ahead of next week’s Spending Review to urge the Government to back the sector through a sustained plan for investment and a clear strategy for increasing participation in sport and physical activity.
The letter explains that a failure to prioritise the sector in the Spending Review will risk the decline or closure of more facilities and clubs, a reduction in physical activity levels, a negative impact on physical and mental health, greater health inequalities and lower productivity – meaning significant extra costs to the Treasury and the NHS.
Research shows that the sector generates social and economic value worth more than £107bn annually, through improvements to wellbeing and direct health and social care savings. It contributes almost £100bn annually in direct economic output – equivalent to 2.5% of total output. The sector is also helping to tackle climate change and is supporting the UK’s net-zero ambitions.
The UK’s physical activity levels rank 11th in Europe among comparable nations and the most recent participation data from Sport England shows significant inequalities remain across different demographic groups and communities.
Through the steps set out in its letter, the NSPG highlights how the Government can unlock the full potential of the sector to kickstart economic growth, reduce pressure on the NHS, improve community cohesion, and break down barriers to opportunity.
The letter urges the Government to capitalise on the transformative power of sport, recreation and physical activity to deliver on its missions during this Parliament, as well as in the long-term.
To read the letter submitted to the Prime Minister from the NSPG, click here.
Lisa Wainwright MBE, CEO of the Sport and Recreation Alliance said: “The Spending Review presents the Government with an important and timely opportunity to demonstrate its long-term commitment to the sector and acknowledge the greater role sport, recreation and physical activity can - and should - play in policymaking across Government departments.
“The sector is uniquely placed to help the Government meet several of its missions including driving economic growth and reducing pressure on the NHS and at the Alliance, we know our members stand ready to work with Government to get more people active. However, to do so effectively and to really raise participation in sport, recreation and physical activity across the country - especially in areas where barriers to access and stubborn inequalities remain - we need sustained investment in the sector, underpinned by a bold and ambitious strategy to help the UK become the most active nation in Europe.”
The Sport and Recreation Alliance welcomes Government’s commitment to investing in community sport, recreation and physical activity, and its recognition of the social and economic value it provides.
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