Swim England<\/strong> chief executive Jane Nickerson<\/strong> is part of a coalition of 102 national governing bodies and sporting organisations that has asked prime minister Boris Johnson<\/strong> for emergency funding for the sports and activity sector.<\/p>\n

The coalition – which also includes the Football Association, Premier League, Rugby Football Union, England and Wales Cricket Board<\/strong> and Lawn Tennis Association<\/strong> – has written to Johnson and warned that failing to provide financial support would have ramifications for physical and mental health for generations to come.<\/p>\n

It comes on the day the Government announced they are postponing the return of fans to sporting events which was due to be piloted from 1 October as coronavirus cases continue to rise.<\/p>\n

The coalition wants investment similar to that provided to the arts and restaurant sectors with the latter given a \u00a31.57bn support package in July.<\/p>\n

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Photo Courtesy: Swim England<\/p><\/div>\n
A Swim England press release said: “that will enable the sport and activity sector to continue to provide programmes and facilities that address the health inequalities highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic and support the NHS by improving health outcomes”.<\/p>\n
It also calls for a \u2018Sports Recovery Fund\u2019 to be delivered at the Comprehensive Spending Review, as part of the Better Health campaign.<\/p>\n
The fund would help protect existing jobs and facilities so the sector can:<\/p>\n
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Support programmes and facilities that address the health inequalities highlighted by Covid-19, particularly inactivity among women, lower socio-economic groups, BAME communities and people with disabilities.<\/li>\n
Expand the innovations across the sector that we have seen during Covid-19 \u2013 making opportunities digital and increasing accessibility across the country.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The letter reads:<\/p>\n
\u201cGrassroots sport, fitness, and wider recreational activity is proven to improve physical, mental, and social wellbeing. This makes our sector an essential service as our nation recovers from the damage caused by Covid-19.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrime Minister \u2013 you\u2019ve long been a champion of the benefits of a physically active lifestyle and we were heartened to hear that commitment renewed this summer with the launch of the Government\u2019s obesity strategy.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, we are united in our concern that at a time when our role should be central to the nation\u2019s recovery, the future of the sector is perilous. Covid-19 has exposed the fragility of vital services and assets, with sports clubs and fitness facilities facing permanent closure, depriving local communities of facilities and programmes on which they depend.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy placing sport and physical activity now at the heart of our nation\u2019s renewal and using it to drive new ambitions for health and wellbeing, we can create a strong, prosperous, resilient and healthy nation for generations to come.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
According to the BBC, the letter also informs Johnson that sport and physical activity contributes more than \u00a316bn and 600,000 jobs to the UK economy.<\/span><\/p>\n
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“Our sector will be at the forefront of your plans to improve the health and wellbeing of all communities\u2026to solving societal issues\u2026including reducing health inequalities, tackling obesity, cutting crime, easing loneliness, and enhancing social cohesion,” the group adds.<\/span><\/p>\n
“But to do so effectively, we require your government’s backing.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
A report published by Sport England<\/a> and Sheffield Hallam University this month showed that every \u00a31 spent on community sport and physical activity generates nearly \u00a34 for the English economy, providing an annual contribution of more than \u00a385 billion a year.<\/p>\n
Nickerson’s Call For Injection Of Funds Is Echoed<\/h3>\n
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Photo Courtesy: Jane Nickerson<\/p><\/div>\n
Swim England has been vocal in its call for ring-fenced funding to help those facilities financially struggling or still shut as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.<\/p>\n
Nickerson said:<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s encouraging to see so many more organisations have now joined the fight for funding and have joined forces to lobby the Prime Minister \u2013 the louder we shout with one voice, the harder it will be for the Government to ignore us.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have seen more pools reopen but a lot of these are still at reduced capacities compared with pre Covid-19 levels and there are still more than 20 per cent of publicly-owned facilities closed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is extremely frustrating for our members, clubs, all our wonderful sports, teachers, coaches and recreational swimmers who all rely on the water for exercise, enjoyment and employment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been proved that aquatic activity can help save the NHS and social care system hundreds of millions of pounds each year so it\u2019s time for the Government to deliver and provide the vital support it has done for other sectors.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
However, the sector has been heavily impacted by Covid-19, with swimming pools, gyms and leisure centres having to shut their doors, community sport being cancelled and heavy restrictions put in place since reopening.<\/p>\n
Huw Edwards<\/strong>, CEO of ukactive said:<\/p>\n
\u201cOur sector is united in its call to the Prime Minister to back grassroots sport and physical activity so that our clubs, gyms and leisure facilities can throw their full weight behind fighting this pandemic.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a health crisis and our sector can play a vital role in supporting our NHS by restoring the nation\u2019s physical and mental resilience in the face of this terrible virus.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe call on the Government to deliver the urgent fiscal, taxation and regulatory support required to save sports and activity providers across the UK from disappearing from our communities at the time they are needed most.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Lisa Wainwight<\/strong>, CEO of the Sport and Recreation Alliance, said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe strength of this coalition from the sports, recreation and activity sector cannot be ignored in its public call to the Prime Minister.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Covid-19 pandemic has put an incredible strain on our sector, which was forced to close for a prolonged period.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is imperative that our sector gets the support it requires from the Government to get back to business, in order to ease the pressures on the NHS and play a central role in our nation\u2019s recovery from Covid-19.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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