Sport England this week celebrated reaching the milestone of investing £5 billion in grassroots sport.
To celebrate the breadth of projects that have benefitted from public funding, Sport England have produced a video and some infographics, highlighting the positive impact the money has made since 1994 under the #fivebillionstories.
Since 1994:
• Almost 15,000 playing fields have been protected from development
• More than 2000 schools, colleges and universities have received funding to get more young people active
• Over 100 sports funded to get more people playing and support talented athletes to progress – from football, rugby and tennis through to ultimate frisbee, rounders and water polo
• The smallest project funded was Lockswood Bowling Club in Southampton (£300 to repair the green after flood damage).
Sport England Chief Executive Jennie Price said, “There is no doubt that £5 billion is an enormous amount of money and we’re exceptionally grateful to the people who’ve bought National Lottery tickets, and taxpayers, for making it possible for us to invest much needed funds in grassroots sport.”
"Today we particularly want to thank the people behind the projects we have funded – without their vision, drive and commitment, they would simply not have happened.
"They have made an important contribution to their communities and to sport, and should take great pride in their achievements."
Commenting on the milestone, Emma Boggis, Chief Executive of the Sport and Recreation Alliance said, "We have long said that grassroots sport and recreation is the heartbeat of the sector and to see some of the stories of how £5 billion of public money has helped grassroots clubs grow is fantastic."
"I’m not sure many people could have envisaged the National Lottery having such a major impact upon the sporting landscape when it launched in 1994. It is great to be reminded of how the money from tickets sold up and down the country every day of the week supports grassroots sport."
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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The National Sector Partners Group has issued a joint statement following the announcement of the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review today.
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Today Sport England has announced the appointment of its new Chief Executive, Simon Hayes, who will begin the role in September.
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