The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) today announced a new strategy for sport from grassroots to elite level. “Sporting Future: A New Strategy for an Active Nation.” The strategy includes the following themes:

• Sport England to have a wider remit – to support children from aged five in sport, outside of school
• Funding to be invested in proven projects that get people involved in sport for the wider benefits it brings to people’s lives
• Development of new ‘good governance code’ for National Governing Bodies in receipt of public money

Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said: “Sport has an incredible power to do social good and that is what our new strategy is all about. We will invest in sport and physical activity that shows how it can have a positive impact on people’s lives, how it brings communities together while ensuring it continues to make a significant contribution to the economy too.

“We want to give everyone the best possible experience of sport from the earliest age which is why Sport England will now support children from five years old. We also want to maintain Britain’s reputation as one of the leading nations in the world for putting on major sporting events while making sure we are the best in the world on good governance too.”

Whilst the DCMS was formulating its strategy, a Forum of National Governing Bodies’ CEOs was set up to highlight the work and value of NGBs to sport in the UK to the Government and to influence policy.

Adrian Christy, Chair of the NGB CEO Forum commented on behalf of the forum: “The NGB CEO Forum warmly welcomes the Governments new sports strategy – Sporting Future: A New Strategy for an Active Nation. As a forum, we met with the Sports Minister this week and are really pleased that the Government has recognised the social value of sport and the role that NGBs play delivering that social value. We very much look forward to working with the DCMS and other departments, Sport England and UK Sport in playing our part delivering an exciting future for British sport.

“The strategy provides both support and challenges to NGBs who generate much of the social value of Sport. We are excited about continuing the great relationship we have with Sport England and UK Sport moving forwards to strengthen sport – from the grassroots to the elite, enabling even more people to take part in sport, whether as players, coaches, volunteers or fans, to bring even greater medal success and inspire an Active Nation.”

• Link to Government’s Sport Strategy – Sporting Future: A New Strategy for an Active Nation
• Government press release