Job search
Job Search
Latest news
More news: (showing 1 - 20 of 13726)           
UK only International

More than half of community sports groups face fear of closure – survey

By Rob Gibson    25 Jan 2018
More than half of community sports club members surveyed said they feared for the future of their groups / Sported
Sported’s members hold a special place in communities – the groups collectively shape and inspire the lives of young people, and create a unique sense of unity and community spirit – all through the power of sport
– Chris Grant, CEO, Sported

Community sports leaders continue to face a shortage of funding and support, according to findings from a new survey.

Research by sports charity Sported and TSB found that a quarter of people have seen their local group close down, with more than half (54 per cent) facing the fear of closure if they cannot find professional support or funding.

Almost three quarters (71 per cent) of sports club members said the leaders of their group are volunteers working in their spare time and 61 per cent are concerned about the lack of volunteers.

Sported supports more than 3,000 groups through its Sport for Development programme, 85 per cent of which are in urban areas, with 44 per cent operating in the bottom third of the most deprived areas in the UK.

Today (25 January), TSB announced a new partnership with the charity under which local TSB branches will provide support in operational areas such as budgeting, marketing, social media and PR.

The scheme will launch in four areas: north-east Scotland, south Midlands, Thames Valley and the south coast, and Greater Manchester.

“For many, local sports groups are the hub of community life and the people who run them and support them all share the same values,” said Paul Pester, CEO of TSB.

“Sport has a transformational power that enables people to thrive – it teaches teamwork and problem-solving skills and it builds a sense of infectious pride that spreads to teammates, families and the local community.”

Sported CEO Chris Grant added: “This new partnership brings together Sported’s network and experience in Sport for Development with the expertise and enthusiasm of TSB staff to help these vital community assets survive and thrive.”

More than 1,000 members of community sports clubs were surveyed in January. Other findings showed:

• 82 per cent of parents believe community sports groups are important for their children’s personal development.

• 77 per cent of people feel community sport is an important part of their social life and helps maintain their happiness.

• 68 per cent believe community sport improves community cohesion.

• 68 per cent say community sport is vital in transforming the lives of young people.

• 69 per cent say their local sports group helped them meet people from a different background.

• 65 per cent believe community sport is important in helping reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

While many groups survive without external investment, in November 2017, 32 community projects welcomed news from Sport England of £4.4m (US$5.87m, €4.92m) in National Lottery funding.

The funding aims to help community groups recruit more women, disabled people, young people and those from disadvantaged backgrounds to volunteer for sport and physical activity initiatives.

Sported  volunteers  TSB  Paul Pester  Chris Grant 
Sign up for FREE ezines
Related news

Company profile

Company profile: Spivi
Spivi is an immersive fitness gamification platform that helps gym operators to achieve better retention by utilizing existing wearables, equipment, and sensors in the club.
View full profile >
More company profiles

Featured Supplier

Elevate registrations soar: a record-breaking start to Elevate 2024
Elevate, the premier event in the physical activity, fitness, sports therapy and performance sector, is thrilled to announce that registrations for its 2024 conference are now live – and the response has been nothing short of exceptional.
View full details >
More featured suppliers

Property & Tenders

Location: Loughton, IG10
Company: Knight Frank
Location: Grantham, Leicestershire
Company: Belvoir Castle
Location: Verwood, Dorset
Company: AVISON YOUNG
Location: Hall Place House, Bexley, DA5 1PQ
Company: London Borough of Bexley
Location: 15 Concessions across the nation's forests
Company: Forestry England
More properties & tenders

Diary dates

11-14 Apr 2024
Exhibition Centre , Cologne, Germany
22-24 Apr 2024
Galgorm Resort, York
10-12 May 2024
China Import & Export Fair Complex, Guangzhou, China
23-24 May 2024
Large Hall of the Chamber of Commerce (Erbprinzenpalais), Wiesbaden, Germany
More diary dates