Game On: Community and school sport

Culture, Media and Sport Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 28 Nov 2024 Parliament page
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee is to examine the health of sport in local communities and schools and whether more can be done to sustain and grow sporting opportunities for all. The inquiry will look at the funding available for sport in the community, how volunteers can be better … Read more
33 Recommendations
16 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
5 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 12 events
26 Jun
2026
Report published
3 Jun
2026
Correspondence
20 Apr
2026
Report published
16 Jul
2025
Oral evidence
8 Jul
2025
Correspondence
1 Jul
2025
Correspondence
17 Jun
2025
Correspondence
17 Jun
2025
Correspondence
3 Jun
2025
Oral evidence
22 Apr
2025
Oral evidence
25 Mar
2025
Oral evidence
25 Feb
2025
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
16 Jul 2025
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Adam Conant · Department for Culture, Media and Sport Catherine McKinnell MP · Department for Education Matthew Hopkinson · Department for Education Stephanie Peacock MP · Department for Culture, Media and Sport
3 Jun 2025
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Councillor Peter Mason · Local Government Association Huw Edwards · UKactive Robert Sullivan · Football Foundation Tim Hollingsworth OBE · Sport England
22 Apr 2025
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Jon Cockcroft · Bowls England Jordan Letts · Northampton Saints Foundation Kate Stephens · Chance to Shine Paige Cronje · SportCheer England Scott Lloyd · Lawn Tennis Association Stewart Kellett · Basketball England
25 Mar 2025
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Andy Taylor · Active Partnerships Anna Scott-Marshall · ParalympicsGB Emily Robinson · London Sport Lisa Wainwright MBE · Sport and Recreation Alliance Mark Lawrie · StreetGames Sarah Kaye · Sported Stephanie Hilborne OBE · Women in Sport
25 Feb 2025
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Ali Oliver MBE · Youth Sport Trust Alistair Patrick-Heselton Anna Hopkin MBE Montell Douglas
Title HC No. Published Items Response
4th Report - Game On: Community and school sport HC 593 20 Apr 2026 49 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
6 results
Clear
2 Recommendation Acknowledged
4th Report - Game On: Community an…
We recognise the pressures on the public finances.
We recognise the pressures on the public finances. Investing in sport, however, by creating a more active population, will eventually lead to significant savings, particularly in the health and welfare budgets. We recommend that the Government increase the 0.3% (£3.8 … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledged the importance of sustained investment by outlining various significant funding commitments, but did not commit to increasing the percentage share of total government expenditure to the recommended 0.6%.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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25 Recommendation Acknowledged
4th Report - Game On: Community an…
We recommend that the Government require schools to have a policy to give every child...
We recommend that the Government require schools to have a policy to give every child the opportunity to achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. We further recommend that the Government set clear expectations for activity to … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the important role schools can play in helping children be active and will continue to support them in creating active environments, but does not commit to requiring a specific policy or setting clear expectations.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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33 Conclusion Acknowledged
4th Report - Game On: Community an…
Joining a sports club, community walking club or a leisure centre is a wonderful way...
Joining a sports club, community walking club or a leisure centre is a wonderful way to meet new people in the community and to make connections. When local people come together through sport and physical activity, further benefits follow, from … Read more
Government Response
The government recognises the critical role of sport and physical activity in improving wellbeing, boosting social connection, and bringing communities together.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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36 Recommendation Acknowledged
4th Report - Game On: Community an…
We recommend that the Government review the impact of the place‑ based funding model annually,...
We recommend that the Government review the impact of the place‑ based funding model annually, publishing metrics to ensure that ‘doubly‑ disadvantaged’ neighbourhoods are being fully included in the process. (Recommendation, Paragraph 117)
Government Response
The government acknowledged the importance of targeting disadvantaged areas, stating DCMS has published guidance and is working with Sport England to prioritize high-need areas, but did not commit to an annual review or publishing specific metrics on funding impact.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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43 Recommendation Acknowledged
4th Report - Game On: Community an…
We recognise the importance of providing safe environments for everyone attending sports clubs or activity...
We recognise the importance of providing safe environments for everyone attending sports clubs or activity groups and would not want to advocate for anything that would compromise this. However, we call on the Government to be mindful of the added … Read more
Government Response
The government welcomes the recognition of volunteers and agrees to streamline administration, detailing ongoing work with Sport England, CIMSPA, and ODI to develop an open data standard for volunteering and a new national workforce register.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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49 Recommendation Acknowledged
4th Report - Game On: Community an…
We recommend that the Government establish a time‑limited, cross‑ departmental working group with a clearly...
We recommend that the Government establish a time‑limited, cross‑ departmental working group with a clearly defined set of objectives and a formal methodology for measuring progress and outputs to support the delivery of the strategy. This group should be chaired … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledged the need for collaboration and stated its intention to set measurable objectives through a National Plan for Physical Activity, but did not commit to establishing the specific cross-departmental working group recommended.
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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Government Response AI assessment · 49 of 33 classified
Accepted 29
Accepted in Part 4
Acknowledged 6
Deferred 3
Not Addressed 2
Rejected 5
Total 33 recs + 16 conclusions
Correspondence 5 letters
3 Jun 2026 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education, relating to PE and School Sport Partnerships, 22 May 2026
Parliament page
8 Jul 2025 To committee Letter from Huw Edwards, Chief Executive, ukactive, regarding oral evidence follow-up, dated 26 June 2025
Parliament page
1 Jul 2025 To committee Letter from Tim Hollingsworth, Chief Executive, Sport England, regarding oral evidence follow-up, dated 25 June 2025
Parliament page
17 Jun 2025 To committee Letter from Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive, Football Foundation, regarding oral evidence follow-up , dated 5 June 2025
Parliament page
17 Jun 2025 To committee Letter from Stephanie Peacock MP, Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth, regarding the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme, dated 9 June 2025
Parliament page