EFDS backs campaign to show George Osborne the value of grassroots sport
The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) is backing a new campaign to ensure disabled people do not endure the greatest impact of any planned funding cuts in sport. Get Your Kit On is designed to promote support for grassroots sport ahead of the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review on 25 November.
Sports organisations across the country are supporting the #GetYourKitOn campaign. It is encouraging as many people as possible to tell George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much they value grassroots sport before he decides whether to cut up to 40% of grassroot sport’s taxpayer funding.
EFDS, the national charity dedicated to disabled people in sport and physical activity, is concerned that disabled people may be the first participants to miss out if Government cuts funding in grassroot sport. With disabled people half as likely to be as active as non-disabled people, restrictions on local opportunities could mean providers cut back or stop delivering programmes, which include disabled people. This could lead to further drops in participation for the country’s most inactive group.
Emma Boggis, Chief Executive of the Sport and Recreation Alliance, the umbrella body for sports organisations, says the campaign needs as many supporters as possible if it is to succeed.
“We understand difficult decisions have to be made but cuts of this size would have serious repercussions for grassroots sport. So we are calling for everyone who plays or who has children who play grassroots sport to spend 60 seconds contacting the Chancellor to tell them how much they value our grassroots sport.”
Recent polling, commissioned by the Alliance, shows that 79% of people feel the Government should do more to support grassroots sport, and 75% agreeing that grassroots sport should receive more funding from the Government.
Emma Boggis continues:
“The #GetYourKitOn campaign is a fantastic way to show the strength of feeling and passion that keeps grassroots sport functioning in the country, but we need you to act quickly. These decisions are already being made and unless we tell George Osborne that we are united in our support for our community clubs and sports, sport stands to lose out.”
Barry Horne, Chief Executive of EFDS, on backing the campaign said:
“EFDS is very concerned that if funding is cut, we could take steps back rather than forward in opening up opportunities for all to play sport. Many disabled people’s sporting experiences are made better through extra support, whether in person, equipment or accessibility. Local organisations often rely on extra funding to pay for this, to ensure disabled people have the same opportunities as everyone else. The risk is that spending cuts could affect disabled people more than any other group.”
Recent EFDS research shows that seven in ten disabled people want to be more active. Horne believes this enthusiasm could be curbed should cuts be made:
“A cut of 40% to Exchequer funding would have a huge impact on the ability of sport to deliver the benefits it offers to all communities. We hope there’s still time to convince the Chancellor how valuable grassroots sport is, especially those in our most disadvantaged communities.
Making cuts to grassroots sport funding will undoubtedly impact upon the health and happiness of people within our communities. This then has a direct effect on the health budget as well as impacts on economic growth and the development of our young people. We’d encourage those involved in grassroots sport to back this campaign and show George Osborne the true value of grassroots sport.”
You can spread the word of your support for the campaign by sharing photos of you in your sports kit with the hashtag #GetYourKitOn. As part of the campaign, supporters are asked to visit www.GetYourKitOn.team and post a message directly to the inbox of George Osborne, asking him to protect funding for grassroots sport.
