The £400 million announced in June’s Spending Review for grassroots sports facilities should be directed towards vital local community assets, such as leisure centres, swimming pools and local gyms.
So says a coalition of the LGA, Chief Cultural and Leisure Officers Association, Community Leisure UK, Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers, Swim England, and ukactive, which is calling on the Government to ensure the funding is invested in the facilities that people rely on every day to stay active and healthy.
The group argues that councils are best placed to identify where investment is most needed, and to ensure the funding delivers maximum impact for communities.
With councils already the largest funders of public fitness and leisure services, directing investment through them would help safeguard and enhance the infrastructure that supports physical activity across the UK.
This approach would also align with the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan for England, enabling councils to work with health and care partners to promote active lifestyles and improve public health outcomes. With leisure centres and swimming pools particularly popular among older age groups and people with health conditions, supporting these facilities will help tackle health inequalities most effectively.
An LGA spokesperson said: “It is positive the Government has announced £400 million for grassroots sports facilities. But for this funding to be truly transformative, we are calling for it to be invested via councils, so it can have the impact that delivers the ambition the Government has to improve our nation’s health.”