Appeal to PM for Sports Recovery Fund Leaders from sport and physical activity sector appeal to PM for urgent funding and central role in nation’s Covid-19 recovery Leaders from more than one hundred sport and physical activity bodies have sent a letter to the Prime Minister urging him to ringfence funding for the recovery of the sports and activity sector – or risk fuelling physical inactivity and related illnesses for a generation. The letter comes during the Great British Week of Sport and highlights the contribution of the sports and physical activity sector to society, fuelled by a combined workforce of more than 600,000 people. The coalition requests an urgent support package from the Government, as has been provided to arts and restaurant sectors, that will enable the sport and activity sector to continue to provide programmes and facilities that address the health inequalities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic and support the NHS by improving health outcomes. It calls for a “Sports Recovery Fund” to be delivered at the Comprehensive Spending Review, as part of the Better Health campaign. The fund would help protect existing jobs and facilities so that the sector can: Support programmes and facilities that address the health inequalities highlighted by COVID-19, particularly inactivity among women, lower socio-economic groups, BAME communities and people with disabilities. Expand the innovations across the sector that we have seen during COVID-19 – making opportunities digital and increasing accessibility across the country. A report published by Sport England and Sheffield Hallam University this month showed that every £1 spent on community sport and physical activity generates nearly £4 for the English economy, providing an annual contribution of more than £85bn a year, with a social value of more than £72bn a year, measured by physical and mental health and wellbeing, individual and community development. Grassroots sport and physical activity is an essential part of the UK’s recovery, not just in terms of improved physical wellbeing and reducing the burden on the NHS, but the positive impact it has on mental wellbeing, as well as helping to overcome societal challenges such as loneliness, crime and isolation. However, the sector has been heavily impacted by COVID-19, with gyms and leisure centres having to shut their doors, community sport being cancelled and heavy restrictions put in place since re-opening. This has significantly impacted the commercial viability of the sector, which has resulted in many local sport, fitness and leisure facilities announcing closures and job losses. Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive said: “Our sector is united in its call to the Prime Minister to back grassroots sport and physical activity so that our clubs, gyms and leisure facilities can throw their full weight behind fighting this pandemic. “This is a health crisis and our sector can play a vital role in supporting our NHS by restoring the nation’s physical and mental resilience in the face of this terrible virus. “We call on the Government to deliver the urgent fiscal, taxation and regulatory support required to save sports and activity providers across the UK from disappearing from our communities at the time they are needed most.” Lisa Wainwight, CEO of the Sport and Recreation Alliance, said: “The strength of this coalition from the sports, recreation and activity sector cannot be ignored in its public call to the Prime Minister. “The COVID-19 pandemic has put an incredible strain on our sector, which was forced to close for a prolonged period. “It is imperative that our sector gets the support it requires from the Government to get back to business, in order to ease the pressures on the NHS and play a central role in our nation’s recovery from COVID-19.” Note to Editors The full list of signatories can be found below: Name Organisation Pete Ackerley British American Football Jane Allen British Gymnastics Justin Andrews You Fit Craig Anthony British Wrestling Joanne Ashton TSG Simon Bailey Serco Leisure David Bibby Everyone Active Mark Braithwaite 1Life Jason Brautigam British Dressage Mark Bullingham Football Association Peter Burt Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles Bill Bush Premier League Béatrice Butsana-Sita Greenhouse Sports Marcus Capel The Pony Club Joanna Coates UK Athletics Jon Cockcroft Bowls England Fran Connolly England Netball Laura Cordingley Chance to Shine Mark Coups England Lacrosse Dave Courteen Mosaic Spa and Health Clubs Richard Darwin The Gym Group Andrew Denton Outdoor Industries Association Tara Dillon CIMSPA Lisa Dodd-Mayne University of Warwick Michelle Draper British Ice Skating Huw Edwards ukactive David English AJ Products Mike Evans EFL Trust Tim Fawke Snowsport England John Fletcher Northampton Leisure Trust Peter Gilpin LED Leisure Management Ltd Kevin Gorman National Council for Metal Detecting Iain Graham British Equestrian / British Showjumping Tanni Grey-Thompson ukactive Peter Guy Gym Works Glenn Hall Parkwood Leisure Dean Hardman AoC Sport Gary Hargraves Sport:80 Julie Harrington British Cycling Tom Harrison England and Wales Cricket Board Sara Heath Pentathlon GB James Hicks British Horse Society Stephanie Hilborne Women in Sport Si Hill UK Ultimate James Hope-Gill Skateboard England / Skateboard GB Ivan Horsfall Turner Freedom Leisure Phil Horton Miha Bodytec Councillor James Jamieson LGA Gethin Jenkins England Boxing Chris Jones England Athletics David Joy British Canoeing Natalie Justice-Dearn Rounders England Arun Kang Sporting Equals Peter Kay Fusion Lifestyle Neil King Energie Fitness Marcus Kingwell EMD UK Sophie Lawler Total Fitness James Lawrence Lifestyle Fitness Mark Lawrie StreetGames Scott Lloyd Lawn Tennis Association Stuart Margetts Our People Lee Mason Active Partnerships Marg Mayne Mytime Active Paul McPartlan Places Leisure Ashley Metcalfe British Weightlifting Sarah Mortiboys Dallaglio RugbyWorks Dan Newton Parkour Jane M Nickerson Swim England Phil Nunnerley Endurance GB Tove Okunniwa London Sport Ali Oliver Youth Sport Trust John Oxley Places Leisure Andy Parkinson British Rowing Rebecca Passmore Pure Gym Lisa Pearce British Wheelchair Basketball Matthew Pengelly Matrix Fitness Nick Pink England Hockey Joyce Power Funxtion Brendon Pyle The Golf Foundation Andy Reed Sport for Development Coalition Paul Richardson Gymshark Ralph Rimmer Rugby Football League Scott Rolfe Halo Leisure Mark Sesnan Greenwich Leisure Limited Mike Sharrock Paralmpics GB Bill Sweeney Rugby Football Union Chris Symons BH Live Peter Thompson English Indoor Bowling Association Jeremy Tomlinson England Golf John Treharne The Gym Group Chris Turner GM Active Mark Tweedie Community Leisure UK Jean-Claude Vacassin The International Fitness Business Alliance Colin Wagget Third Space Lisa Wainwright Sport and Recreation Alliance Nicola Walker Sported Ben Wilkins Good Boost Sue Wilkinson Association for Physical Education Mark Winder Goalball UK Tom Withers Gladstone MRM Keir Worth England Squash Dave Wright MYZONE For interviews and photo requests, please contact the ukactive press office at [email protected]