Leaders from SS & PA sector appeal to PM for urgent funding and central role in COVID recovery

21/09/20

Leaders from more than one hundred sport and physical activity bodies have sent a letter to the Prime Minister urging him to ringfence funding for the recovery of the sports and activity sector – or risk fuelling physical inactivity and related illnesses for a generation.

The letter comes during the Great British Week of Sport and highlights the contribution of the sports and physical activity sector to society, fuelled by a combined workforce of more than 600,000 people.

The coalition requests an urgent support package from the Government, as has been provided to arts and restaurant sectors, that will enable the sport and activity sector to continue to provide programmes and facilities that address the health inequalities highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic and support the NHS by improving health outcomes.

It calls for a “Sports Recovery Fund” to be delivered at the Comprehensive Spending Review, as part of the Better Health campaign. The fund would help protect existing jobs and facilities so that the sector can:

• Support programmes and facilities that address the health inequalities highlighted by COVID-19, particularly inactivity among women, lower socio-economic groups, BAME communities and people with disabilities
• Expand the innovations across the sector that we have seen during COVID-19 – making opportunities digital and increasing accessibility across the country

Click HERE for the full article, courtesy of UK Active.