Game On: Community and school sport

The evidence shows that funding community sport and physical activity is an investment with high returns, including savings on healthcare costs, productivity gains, and wider wellbeing benefits. The consequences of under‑investment are costly. Ageing infrastructure, higher operating costs, and reduced access lead to facility closures, lost participation, and increased pressure on health and social care budgets. While the Government’s £400 million will help, further action is needed if we are to keep pace with other European countries. (Conclusion, Paragraph 11)

We recognise the pressures on the public finances. Investing in sport, however, by creating a more active population, will eventually lead to significant savings, particularly in the health and welfare budgets. We recommend that the Government increase the 0.3% (£3.8 billion) share of total government expenditure on sport and recreation to at least 0.6% (£7.6 billion at current levels of Government spending) over the next ten years. (Recommendation, Paragraph 12)

The Government has a role to play in attracting investment into sport from other sources. It is important that public funding is used strategically to unlock additional investment, including private finance, pension funds, and innovative mechanisms such as crowdfunding and debt guarantees. Corporate social responsibility investment in sport for development remains disproportionately low, despite significant private sector spending on elite sport sponsorship. (Conclusion, Paragraph 17)

We recommend that the Government play a more proactive role in convening and enabling alternative sources of investment in grassroots sport and physical activity. This should include supporting models that leverage private and institutional finance, encouraging greater alignment between corporate social responsibility, investment and community sport outcomes, and promoting collaboration between public, charitable and private funders. (Recommendation, Paragraph 18) 51

Funding application processes can be complex and difficult to navigate, particularly for volunteer‑run grassroots organisations with limited capacity and expertise. Lengthy, technical applications and fragmented funding routes act as barriers to access, despite recent efforts by Sport England to simplify provision through the Movement Fund. There is strong support in the community sport sector for alternative, more accessible application formats, including video, pitch and interview‑based approaches, alongside clearer eligibility checks and early‑stage filtering. (Conclusion, Paragraph 22)

We recommend that the Government requires Sport England and other public funders to further simplify and standardise funding application processes to make them more accessible for grassroots organisations. This should include piloting alternative application formats such as video or interview‑based submissions, introducing a light‑ touch initial eligibility stage, and improving pre‑application support. (Recommendation, Paragraph 23)

There is a lack of transparency and accountability around current funding arrangements for PE and school sport. While the PE and Sport Premium has provided valuable, ring‑fenced support for primary schools, inconsistent assessment, limited benchmarking and weak scrutiny by Ofsted mean that funding is not always used effectively or as intended. The fact that the Government could not provide us with further information about wider departmental contributions further highlights the need for greater clarity and oversight. (Conclusion, Paragraph 28)

We recommend that the Government strengthen accountability for the PE and Sport Premium by introducing clearer national reporting requirements, consistent benchmarking and more robust scrutiny through Ofsted. As a first step, we invite the Government to set out, in its response to our report, a detailed breakdown of all funding it is allocating for school sport, including information about how much funding individual Government Departments are contributing. (Recommendation, Paragraph 29)

We were concerned about reports that the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) had sought to renege on commitments to provide funding for physical education. Given the importance of PE and sport to improving health outcomes, and the potential in the longer‑term for consequential savings to the NHS, we expect DHSC to put its share of funding into the school sport system, along with funding from the Department for Education and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. (Recommendation, Paragraph 30) 52 Healthy Spaces

We are concerned that gaps in understanding of England’s sports facility stock continue to hinder effective planning and investment. While Sport England’s Active Places database provides a useful starting point, it does not offer a sufficiently complete or consistent picture of facilities, their usage or availability. The failure to deliver the National Vision for Facilities has left the sector without a clear strategic framework, limiting the ability to identify need and address inequalities in provision. (Conclusion, Paragraph 35)

We recommend that within six months of this report being published the Government commission a comprehensive national audit of sports and physical activity facilities, working with Sport England and sector partners. The Government should publish a timetable for the audit and report on progress within 12 months. (Recommendation, Paragraph 36)

Access to appropriate, safe, inclusive and affordable sports facilities is closely linked to participation. Yet while demand, particularly from women and girls, is rising, facility provision is declining due to closures, ageing infrastructure and uneven availability. Smaller sports, grassroots organisations and underserved communities are disproportionately affected and increasingly squeezed out by better‑resourced users. Without sustained capital investment, improved planning and stronger safeguards for inclusive access, participation and equality will continue to erode as councils have to prioritise their statutory obligations. (Conclusion, Paragraph 43)

We recommend that a statutory duty be placed on local authorities to provide sporting and leisure facilities in their communities. We further recommend that, as part of the wider increase in spending on sport and recreation, the Government provide councils with extra capital funding sufficient to enable them to meet this duty. As we have said, spending on sport and recreation should be seen as investment. (Recommendation, Paragraph 44)

Whilst at this stage it is not possible to evaluate the scale of the impact of business rate changes on the grassroots sport sector as a whole, it is important that any negative effects on sports clubs and facilities are mitigated, given that many facilities are already under significant financial pressure. (Conclusion, Paragraph 46)

We ask the Government to set out in its response to our report the measures it intends to take to relieve any adverse effects on sporting facilities from its recent business rate changes. We further recommend that the Government undertake a full impact assessment to ensure that potential economic, social, and operational consequences for sport and leisure facilities are fully understood. (Recommendation, Paragraph 46) 53

We are concerned about Sport England losing its function as a Statutory Planning Consultee. Given the vital importance of playing fields to grassroots sport, Ministers in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport should be arguing strongly for the protection of Sport England’s role. It is telling that the three bodies the Government is proposing to remove from the consultee list are all accountable to the DCMS. (Conclusion, Paragraph 51)

We recommend that the Government retain Sport England as a Statutory Planning Consultee. For its part, Sport England needs to redouble its efforts to turn its responses around swiftly. (Recommendation, Paragraph 52)

We recommend that any future planning reforms include a robust and enforceable mechanism to protect playing fields and sports facilities, safeguarding these vital community assets for future generations. (Recommendation, Paragraph 53)

We welcome the creative steps organisations have taken to develop innovative approaches to create new spaces and facilities. (Conclusion, Paragraph 58)

We recommend that the Government legislate to require local authorities and housing associations to remove unnecessary “No Ball Games” signs, to make public spaces more usable for children’s play. (Recommendation, Paragraph 59)

We heard mixed views about the merits of the Opening School Facilities Fund. We are concerned, however, that the closure of the fund, without a replacement, has left facilities underused despite clear demand from young people. (Conclusion, Paragraph 62)

We recommend that the Government reinstate support for opening school sports facilities to communities, but that it do so through a long‑term, place‑based funding model, learning lessons from the experience of the Opening School Facilities Fund. The new programme should be locally informed, include clear sustainability and lifecycle cost requirements, and be aligned with wider community sport and health strategies to ensure lasting impact and value for public money. (Recommendation, Paragraph 63) Healthy Schools

Physical education and daily movement are not being fully utilised in schools, leaving too many children, particularly the least active, without the health, wellbeing and learning benefits that regular activity provides. Curriculum time for PE has declined, its non‑core status has reduced its 54 perceived value, and inequalities in participation have widened as a result. Increasing timetabled PE is important, but meaningful change depends on embedding movement throughout the whole school day. Making PE a core subject would raise its status and help ensure that physical activity is integrated across teaching and learning, rather than squeezed from the timetable. (Conclusion, Paragraph 73)

We recommend that the Government strengthen the national curriculum by confirming that as part of the new approach to school sport announced in June 2025, a minimum of two hours of high‑quality PE each week will be mandatory. (Recommendation, Paragraph 74)

We recommend that the Government require schools to have a policy to give every child the opportunity to achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. We further recommend that the Government set clear expectations for activity to be woven into the school day, through short movement breaks, active travel, and wrap‑around provision. (Recommendation, Paragraph 75)

We recommend that the Government make physical education a core subject within the national curriculum. (Recommendation, Paragraph 76)

Embedding physical activity throughout the school week to improve children’s health, wellbeing, and educational attainment ultimately depends on the expertise of the nation’s teachers. While we welcome schools working with local clubs and organisations, it remains essential that qualified teachers play a central role, as they understand the diverse needs of every child in the class—not just the rules or techniques of a particular sport. Investing in better‑trained teachers is essential to improving children’s lifelong relationship with physical activity. (Conclusion, Paragraph 79)

The Government should publish a plan to strengthen initial teacher training in physical education and physical activity and ongoing professional development for all teachers, particularly at primary level. (Recommendation, Paragraph 80)

We recommend that the Government issue guidance making clear that schools are expected to adopt PE kit and uniform policies that prioritise comfort, inclusivity and dignity—particularly for girls and pupils with protected characteristics. Schools should work directly with students to provide flexible clothing options, including guidance on sports bras, and take practical steps such as improving privacy in changing areas to reduce anxiety and encourage sustained participation in PE. The Government should also promote more practical, activity‑friendly school uniforms, such as allowing sportswear or trainers as standard, to ensure pupils can 55 move comfortably throughout the day. These measures would help reduce barriers to activity, lower costs for families and increase participation, particularly among girls. (Recommendation, Paragraph 86)

Evidence shows that a narrow, traditional PE curriculum often alienates pupils who feel less confident or “sporty”, particularly girls and children with SEND. Broadening the offer to include non‑traditional sports, dance and outdoor activities helps make PE more enjoyable and accessible, supporting physical literacy and long‑term engagement. (Conclusion, Paragraph 92)

We recommend that the Government require and support schools to deliver a broader and more inclusive PE curriculum that prioritises enjoyment, comfort and a welcoming environment for all pupils. Alongside a wider range of activities, we recommend that schools should offer supportive, age‑appropriate competition that helps children learn from both success and failure without making excellence the sole focus. High achievers should be encouraged to reach their potential, but schools should place equal value on progress from inactivity to participation, recognising this as a significant success in its own right. (Recommendation, Paragraph 93)

We recommend the Government build on the success of the School Games Organiser network with its new School Sport Partnership by increasing capacity and ensuring consistent national coverage. We invite the Government in responding to our report to set out how the scheme will work in practice, how it will build on lessons from the School Games Organiser scheme, how much funding will go into it, and what mechanisms will be in place to ensure this funding is effectively distributed. (Recommendation, Paragraph 101) Healthy Communities

Joining a sports club, community walking club or a leisure centre is a wonderful way to meet new people in the community and to make connections. When local people come together through sport and physical activity, further benefits follow, from increased spending in nearby businesses to improved understanding between communities who might not otherwise meet. (Conclusion, Paragraph 108)

We recommend that the Government should provide national funding and guidance to enable local authorities, clubs and community organisations to expand inclusive initiatives, (such as Play Streets, walking sports and evidence‑backed programmes like Big Sister), prioritising those that engage older generations, disadvantaged groups and young people with limited support networks. (Recommendation, Paragraph 109) 56

We support a place‑based approach to ensure that community needs are understood and met in order to achieve the largest increase in activity levels. Every community is different, and by tailoring initiatives to the particular characteristics of an area, the Government and Sport England can greatly increase their chances of success. (Conclusion, Paragraph 116)

We recommend that the Government review the impact of the place‑ based funding model annually, publishing metrics to ensure that ‘doubly‑ disadvantaged’ neighbourhoods are being fully included in the process. (Recommendation, Paragraph 117)

Increasing women’s participation in sport depends not only on opportunities to play, but also on visibility and representation. Evidence shows that when women’s sport is regularly broadcast, especially on free‑to‑air TV, girls are more likely to feel inspired and motivated to be active. A dedicated broadcast slot for women’s football would provide consistent coverage, grow audiences and challenge persistent gender stereotypes. (Conclusion, Paragraph 121)

We recommend that the Government intervene in discussions between the Premier League, Women’s Professional Leagues Limited, English Football League and Football Association to ensure that women’s football is exempt from the restrictions on broadcasting in the 3pm on Saturday slot. (Recommendation, Paragraph 122)

Sport and physical activity remain underrecognised within national health policy, despite strong evidence of their value for prevention, wellbeing and the management of longterm conditions, and despite the Government’s stated support. While England is regarded as a leader in social prescribing, provision remains inconsistent and lacks an overarching strategy. Gyms, leisure centres and community groups already play a substantial role— supporting musculoskeletal health, improving mental wellbeing and accommodating NHS referrals—but their potential is far from fully realised. Physical activity consistently delivers major physical and mental health benefits, yet it is still not fully embedded within health policy or treatment pathways. Given its proven ability to reduce illness, improve wellbeing and ease pressure on the NHS, the Government should integrate sport and physical activity more firmly into preventative health, mental health support and social prescribing. (Conclusion, Paragraph 129)

We recommend that the Government provide clearer national guidance and sustained funding to health, sport and local partners so that proven models can expand and more people, especially those with long‑term conditions, poor mental health or at risk of inactivity, can benefit from accessible, community‑based activity as part of their overall health 57 and wellbeing support. The guidance should cover how activities like bowls and walking sports can be signposted via social prescribing. (Recommendation, Paragraph 130)

Volunteers are essential to the delivery of community sport. Across the country, thousands of people give their time to coach, officiate and support grassroots clubs, often sustaining provision that would not otherwise exist. We want everyone to have the chance to volunteer. A greater mix of volunteers should improve community relationships and lead to a more diverse volunteering network which in turn will provide role models to those currently less inclined to attend clubs and groups. A coherent policy framework for volunteering would help strengthen the volunteer workforce and ensure that community sport is better supported and more sustainable. (Conclusion, Paragraph 137)

The Government should publish a comprehensive volunteering policy for sport and physical activity. This should include linking volunteering to career development and skills pathways; establishing national awards or recognition schemes for volunteers in community sport; expanding flexible and inclusive volunteering opportunities; and improving digital tools to support recruitment, retention and coordination of volunteers. (Recommendation, Paragraph 138)

We recognise the importance of providing safe environments for everyone attending sports clubs or activity groups and would not want to advocate for anything that would compromise this. However, we call on the Government to be mindful of the added burden on volunteers that legislative changes can cause. (Conclusion, Paragraph 139)

We recommend that the Government work with Sport England to identify steps that can be taken to streamline volunteer administration. This might include establishing a central register so that qualifications and DBS checks can be carried between sports and activity groups. (Recommendation, Paragraph 140) Conclusion: The Case for a Strategy

The benefits of sport and physical activity—improved health, stronger communities, reduced inequalities, and enhanced educational and economic outcomes—span multiple departments, yet responsibility for delivering them remains disconnected. Without a unifying national framework to align funding, planning, education, health policy and community provision, these gains will continue to be fragmented and under‑ realised. The question is no longer whether the Government recognises 58 the benefits of school and community sport in principle, but whether it is willing to act on them with the urgency and ambition the evidence demands. (Conclusion, Paragraph 146)

What is required is a decisive shift: a coherent, cross‑government strategy that addresses the recommendations we have made in this report and sets a clear, long‑term plan for building a more active nation through community and school‑based sport and physical activity. (Conclusion, Paragraph 147)

‘Movement for Health’ reflects the full breadth of what is needed: more movement in all its forms, and better health in its widest sense. “Movement” captures not only structured physical exercise and sport, but the everyday activity, walking to school, playing in the street, active travel, informal play, that makes the biggest difference to long‑term participation. “Health” goes beyond medical outcomes. It speaks to children’s readiness to learn, to stronger communities built through shared activity, to safer and more welcoming neighbourhoods, and to the quality of the spaces where people move. It encompasses well‑maintained leisure centres, new accessible local facilities, protected playing fields, and innovative uses of parks and streets that encourage people of all ages to be active. (Conclusion, Paragraph 148)

We recommend that the Government publish a cross‑government ‘Movement for Health’ strategy by 31 December 2026. This strategy should establish clear national objectives to 2030, set out departmental responsibilities, and define the mechanisms through which health, education, planning, transport and community policy will contribute to increasing activity levels across England. (Recommendation, Paragraph 149)

We recommend that the Government establish a time‑limited, cross‑ departmental working group with a clearly defined set of objectives and a formal methodology for measuring progress and outputs to support the delivery of the strategy. This group should be chaired at senior ministerial level to ensure authority and accountability, and comprise senior officials and ministers from all relevant departments—including the Cabinet Office; Culture, Media and Sport; Education; Health; Local Government; Transport; the Treasury; the Women and Equalities Unit; and Work and Pensions. The group should publish regular, transparent updates against its objectives. (Recommendation, Paragraph 150) 59