Sported has published its latest Pulse survey, gaining a deep insight into the 3,000 community groups they support across the country and the young people on whom they make a daily impact.
The research once again underlines their critical importance in deploying sport and physical activity to actively transform their lives and address societal issues with locally-driven solutions.
But the figures for England also highlight how cost of living rises are putting significant pressures on these clubs and organisations with a sector that is often excluded from traditional funding streams, relying instead on backing from charities like Sported.
And the insight underlines how squeezes in disposable income are threatening to freeze out young people from this difference-making source of help with evidence already of significant disengagement and reductions in participation, exacerbating the financial jeopardy in play within grassroots sport.
The main headlines:
- 91% of groups in England are concerned (extremely or fairly) about the impact of cost-of-living increases on their group and 93% are concerned (extremely or fairly) about its impact on their young people.
- 52% have witnessed either disengagement or a reduction in participation from young people over the past six months.
- Over three quarters (89%) have made a change in response to cost-of-living increases, with the most common subsidised equipment kit for their young people (58%).
- 55% have experienced a reduction in financial support from external funding streams, 53% a significant rise in utility bills and 53% a significant increase in fees for using a facility.
What are the strengths of Sported’s groups in delivering on government priorities around physical activity?
- 83% of English groups told us they get inactive young people active.
- Around half reported young people in their communities are fairly active (46% get an average of 30-59 minutes of physical activity a day), with the same proportion saying young people are less active (less than an average of 30 minutes). 8% said young people in their area are active (average of 60+ minutes per day)
- The most common response when asked what more local or national government could do to support their group was encouraging funders to make applying for funding easier/more accessible (91%).
- The majority of groups don’t work with Sport England or other sports councils (61%), with the most likely connection being that they help groups get funding (19%).
- Most groups don’t work with sports governing bodies (37%), though nearly a third of respondents are supported in delivery by them (29%).
- Relationships with local councils are mixed – nearly a quarter are supported to deliver by councils (22%), are funded by them (24%), or supported to get funding by them (25%). A third don’t work with councils (32%)