This report examines the existing effort and resources that go into sport in England Dear Chancellor and Secretary of StateIn July last year you asked me to gather a team to examine how to ‘ensure far better co-ordination of effort and resources in sport’ and to explore the ‘proposal to involve private and public sectors together in a new National Sports Foundation’ with a view to the possible extension of funding for sport. We are pleased to present the final report of the review. The team has distilled evidence from a wide variety of sources; we have listened to the views of over 200 stakeholders across the public, private and voluntary sectors and we would like to thank them all for their input. It is clear from our research that sport plays a valuable role in society and that Government has recently made good progress (especially in school and elite sport) although there is still room for improvement in the area of community sport. We have noted that Government does not always receive full credit for its investment, largely as a result of a confusing and fragmented funding infrastructure which lacks clear accountability and sometimes causes duplication across the sporting landscape. Whilst the private sector generally recognises sport as an attractive platform for marketing, companies are reluctant to invest significant sums of money –especially at grass roots level –to a sector that is at least partially lacking in commercial orientation and effective management. There is, however, an appetite for additional corporate sponsorship accompanied by clear guidance, an understanding of the business needs of sponsors and a well co-ordinated national campaign for sport, as is the case in Germany. At the operational level, private sector providers are keen to maintain and expand their current investment, as long as they are not penalised by local planning guidelines or a lack of transparency in contract tendering. Together with the re-establishment of a voice for sport at local government level (through the CPA culture block), this private sector investment could help to renew and refinance the current ageing and heavily subsidised facilities to ensure equality of access and participation across the country. We have, therefore, identified five key areas for consideration and recommend that over the next three years (to March 2008) they inform the priorities of the sports sector. 1. To introduce robust measurement and monitoring systems that inform Government investment at local level and ensure clear lines of accountability 2. To promote the personal benefits of sport and physical activity and to help people identify their local delivery points 3. To improve the local delivery of sport and suggest the Government considers how it can support the co-ordination of public, private and voluntary sector investment –as well as las and regional bodies –in order to improve local sporting facilities 4. To create, under strong Government leadership, a single access point and brand for sport in England and to streamline duplicating ‘back office’ functions that would release more money for front line activity 5. To provide targeted incentives and commercial assistance –via a new National Sports Foundation (NSF) –to encourage individual and corporate support and to ‘help sport help itself’ These recommendations directly address the primary issues identified during the review team’s consultations. It is our considered opinion that the above five areas represent the next stage of the journey for sport and will build upon the momentum already achieved. The report shows that sport has considerable financial resources which can be redeployed to deliver more and better services. In addition, innovative capital and revenue funding schemes working with the public, private and voluntary sectors could enable us to continue with our programme of reform and ensure that, at all levels, we are fit for purpose by 2012. Sport is good for public health, for communities and for national identity. The sector depends in no small measure on the good will and involvement of volunteers and commercial investors whose continued commitment will in part be predicated on our getting the next steps right. There is a significant prize to be won. 1. Introduction and executive summary 1.1 Cover letter Lord Carter of Coles 6 Focus of This report.
