4th Report - Game On: Community and school sport

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 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 billion) share of total government expenditure on sport and recreation to at least 0.6% (£7.6 billion at current levels of Government spending) over the next ten years. (Recommendation, Paragraph 12) Show less

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 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 be woven into the school day, through short movement breaks, active travel, and wrap‑around provision. (Recommendation, Paragraph 75) Show less

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 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 increased spending in nearby businesses to improved understanding between communities who might not otherwise meet. (Conclusion, Paragraph 108) Show less

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)

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 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 burden on volunteers that legislative changes can cause. (Conclusion, Paragraph 139) Show less

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 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 at senior ministerial level to ensure authority and accountability, and comprise senior officials and ministers from all relevant departments—including the Cabinet Office; Culture, Media and Sport; Education; Health; Local Government; Transport; the Treasury; the Women and Equalities Unit; and Work and Pensions. The group should publish regular, transparent updates against its objectives. (Recommendation, Paragraph 150) 59 Show less