Our response to DCMS Sport in our Communities report
The DCMS has today published the Sport in our Communities report. It explores community sport and what needs to be done to support the sector as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. The report concludes that Government must renew efforts to get people exercising. Activity Alliance welcomes the findings and recommendations.
Among the findings, MPs say data from Sport England which showed 100,000 fewer children met the recommended level of activity in 2020 than in 2019 is ‘of significant concern’. The DCMS Committee’s Report recommends the Government launch a sports equivalent to the 5 A Day campaign before the end of the year. This would be to educate children on the 60 minutes of activity per day recommended by the Chief Medical Officer.
The Report warns of the yet unknown impact of the third lockdown on people’s fitness. It urges the Government and Sport England to pre-empt consequences with a ‘Work Out to Help Out’ campaign.
On the worrying inequalities that exist in sport and activity for disabled people, the report recommends that the Government reconsider the Committee’s previous recommendation to ring-fence further funds. They want to ensure that the progress being made in physical activity levels with people from specific demographic groups is not set back by COVID-19. This is both by encouraging participation and by attracting leaders and volunteers from a range of communities and backgrounds across the UK.
MPs heard how the COVID-19 pandemic left grassroots sports finances in a ‘precarious’ situation, with several clubs at serious risk of closing. Witnesses told the inquiry that the pre-existing ‘facilities crisis’ and lack of financial reserves were compounded with the impacts of the pandemic. This included declining membership, volunteer workforce and loss of important venue hire revenue. To ensure the long-term survival of the sector, MPs call for the Government, Sport England, UK Sport and the National Lottery to revise funding models to enable accumulation of greater reserves.
Barry Horne, Chief Executive at Activity Alliance, said on the report:
“The DCMS Sport in the Communities report released today highlights some necessary actions needed that could help reduce the unfair gap between disabled and non-disabled people’s participation. The recommendations would support us towards achieving our vision - fairness for disabled people in sport and activity.
“Introducing positive inclusion messages about being active is vital at a young age. Our insight and successful programmes with young disabled people highlight that if we can engage and empower at an early age, there are life-long benefits. We would back any inclusive and accessible campaign to encourage more young people to be active. But also urge campaign leaders to ensure young disabled people are involved in designing and have a voice in the campaign.
“The report acknowledges the vast amount of effort in trying to keep people active before and throughout the pandemic, but that there are still huge inequalities across our communities. The impact of the last year has been felt by the whole nation, but disabled people and people with long-term health conditions have been hit the most.
“We must reassure many disabled people and rebuild their confidence that sport is welcoming, safe and inclusive. if we do not act now, we will witness inequalities widen even further, or unthinkably they may become irreversible. Prioritising disabled people in sport and activity is the only way to prevent this from happening.”
