Sport England commits to place-based funding focus

Sport England has said it will increasingly implement a place-based approach when making funding decisions.

Publishing a three-year progress report on its 10-year strategy, Uniting the Movement, the agency said its ongoing priority would be to “break down the barriers” that prevent people from being active.

“One significant way we’re doing this is through a growing place-based approach, collaborating closely with our partners in local communities to ensure those in greatest need can be physically active,” Sport England said.

The approach is part of a move away from purely funding particular sporting activities through national governing bodies of sport – and instead identify and focus on overcoming specific barriers to physical activity that exist in communities.

This means that any projects or activities that aim to get the nation moving at a local level – from fitness to pilates – could qualify for funding.

Describing the approach, Sport England says: “This place-based systemic work will see us work through our existing 12 Place Partnerships (formerly LDPs) and network of 43 Active Partnerships across England, to foster relationships with local organisations and leaders to overcomethe specific barriers to physical activity that exist in their communities.

“This new way of working directly supports the government’s Get Active strategy, which set ambitious targets of getting 2.5 million more adults and 1m children active by 2030 to tackle the disparities in activity levels.”