The LGA has welcomed a recent report from Sport England that recognises the critical importance of a place-based approach to supporting communities to be active.
From 2017, Sport England funded 12 ‘local delivery pilots’ in different locations around the country to test and learn how to promote physical activity and address the stubborn inequalities that exist among the least active through community-led solutions.
Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Chair of the LGA’s, Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said: “Establishing the local delivery pilots was a bold step for Sport England, and it appears to have been transformative.
“The collaboration between local areas and Sport England demonstrates the emergence of a mature relationship that uses investment and expertise to break down local barriers, often achieving promising results from small scale sums of money.
“It is encouraging to see such a successful collaboration between national and local organisations and highlights the importance of acknowledging the need for change and embracing the flexibility to work in ways that put communities first.
“We look forward to further supporting Sport England and councils on this journey and seeing many more places benefit from this approach.”