New direction for Sport England
17 June 2008
by Alison Howard
The listing was posted by
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Sport England, the agency that provides the bulk of the funding for rounders development, has published a new strategy for 2009-2013 that will impact the way our sport moves forward.
The strategy incorporates some new directions for Sport England, as the agency has once again been forced to respond to changing government priorities. But the main changes – a focus on “sport for sport’s sake” and wider ambitions to develop excellence as well as increased participation – should enable the NRA and governing bodies of other sports to bring a more balanced approach to development.
The main elements of the new strategy are:
-- Sport for sport’s sake: A focus on sport rather than other forms of physical activity, on addressing the needs of sport participants and on maximising sporting success at all levels.
-- A seamless pathway from school to community to elite sport: High-quality experience in school and community sport should foster the development of more elite athletes.
-- National Governing Bodies at the heart of delivery and funded through a simple single pot: As recognised experts in the development of their own sports, governing bodies will be given more autonomy over the use of grant funding for development, and one single funding pot will replace the current plethora of funding streams.
-- More frontline coaching, expertly deployed: The investment in coaches already begun through Sport England’s “Club and Coach” funding will be intensified.
-- Maximising the English passion for volunteering: Sport England will work with national governing bodies to attract and retain more volunteers – and attract more of them into coaching.
-- A modern network of sports clubs: Accessible, modern and accredited sports clubs will become the centrepiece of community sports experience.
-- Opportunity for all: There will be a focus on development for young people and particularly girls, plus disability sport.
-- A simplified way of working: Less bureaucracy and more resources for frontline delivery. Sport England will be a commissioner rather than involved in hands-on decision-making.
Sport England has summed all this up as “a radical new strategy to get more people playing and enjoying sport and to help those with talent get to the very top.” The new approach is designed to capitalise on the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presented by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to inspire more people to take part in and succeed in sport.
The strategy commits Sport England to deliver on a series of demanding targets by 2012-2013:
-- One million more people doing more sport.
-- A 25% reduction in the number of 16-year-olds who drop out of five key sports.
-- Improved talent development systems in at least 25 sports.
-- A measurable increase in people’s satisfaction with their experience of sport – the first time the organisation has set such a qualitative measure.
-- A major contribution to the delivery of the five-hour sports offer for children and young people made by the government.
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Andy Burnham said: “This major reform of Sport England marks a new era for sport in this country and will put us on the road to having a world-leading community sport system. We want to encourage people of all levels and abilities to play sport for life, to reach their full potential and to remove any barriers in the way of the talented. By investing heavily in coaching and the club structure we can maximise the chances for English sporting success and improve the quality of the sport experience for all.”
Jennie Price, Chief Executive of Sport England, said: “My aim was to produce a clear, sharply focussed strategy for Sport England that would win credibility with our stakeholders and set high standards for us as an organisation. Grass roots sport deserves a world-leading system, and that is what we are setting out to deliver. I am confident that the Governing Bodies of Sport, on which this strategy is critically dependent, will rise to the challenge of delivering on participation, talent support and increased satisfaction within their sports.”
Sport England will work with the Youth Sport Trust to deliver the Government’s five-hour sport offer and make sure that talented young people are identified early and nurtured.
Sue Campbell, Chair of the Youth Sport Trust and UK Sport, said: “The past few years have seen great strides in the simplification of the sporting landscape. There is a real determination across the Youth Sport Trust, Sport England and UK Sport to ensure our partnership delivers effective, seamless pathways for sporting opportunity from school to elite. Sport England’s new strategy is a further step forward in this process and is now more focused than ever on ensuring that sporting journey is available to all.” |
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