Select Committee · Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Game On: Community and school sport

Status: Open Opened: 28 Nov 2024 33 recommendations 16 conclusions 1 report

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee is to examine the health of sport in local communities and schools and whether more can be done to sustain and grow sporting opportunities for all. The inquiry will look at the funding available for sport in the community, how volunteers can be better supported and how to open … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
4th Report - Game On: Community and school sport HC 593 20 Apr 2026 49 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
6 Recommendation 4th Report - Game On: Community and sch… Accepted in Part

We recommend that the Government requires Sport England and other public funders to further simplify...

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 … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the need for accessibility, stating Sport England continuously improves processes, has introduced the Movement Fund, and will launch a new platform in 2026/27 to further enhance the applicant experience.
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport
15 Recommendation 4th Report - Game On: Community and sch… Accepted in Part

We ask the Government to set out in its response to our report the measures...

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, … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government details existing measures, including a £4.3 billion support package and new lower multipliers, to mitigate the impact of business rate changes on sporting venues. However, it does not commit to undertaking a new, full impact assessment, stating only that evidence was considered during …
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport
28 Recommendation 4th Report - Game On: Community and sch… Accepted in Part

The Government should publish a plan to strengthen initial teacher training in physical education and...

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)

Government response AI summary
The government outlines the planned PE and School Sport Partnership Network to support teacher training and professional development, and commits to a review of the ITTECF in 2027 to consider amendments, partially addressing the call for a plan.
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport
42 Recommendation 4th Report - Game On: Community and sch… Accepted in Part

The Government should publish a comprehensive volunteering policy for sport and physical activity.

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 … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government welcomes the role of volunteers and agrees to streamline administration, outlining ongoing work with Sport England, CIMSPA, and ODI to develop an open data standard and a new national workforce register.
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
16 Jul 2025 Adam Conant · Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Catherine McKinnell MP · Department for Education, Matthew Hopkinson · Department for Education, Stephanie Peacock MP · Department for Culture, Media and Sport View ↗
3 Jun 2025 Councillor Peter Mason · Local Government Association, Huw Edwards · UKactive, Robert Sullivan · Football Foundation, Tim Hollingsworth OBE · Sport England View ↗
22 Apr 2025 Jon Cockcroft · Bowls England, Jordan Letts · Northampton Saints Foundation, Kate Stephens · Chance to Shine, Paige Cronje · SportCheer England, Scott Lloyd · Lawn Tennis Association, Stewart Kellett · Basketball England View ↗
25 Mar 2025 Andy Taylor · Active Partnerships, Anna Scott-Marshall · ParalympicsGB, Emily Robinson · London Sport, Lisa Wainwright MBE · Sport and Recreation Alliance, Mark Lawrie · StreetGames, Sarah Kaye · Sported, Stephanie Hilborne OBE · Women in Sport View ↗
25 Feb 2025 Ali Oliver MBE · Youth Sport Trust, Alistair Patrick-Heselton, Anna Hopkin MBE, Montell Douglas View ↗

Who gave evidence

25 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Adam Conant · Deputy Director, Head of Sport Department for Culture, Media and Sport 1
Ali Oliver MBE · Chief Executive Youth Sport Trust 1
Alistair Patrick-Heselton 1
Andy Taylor · Chief Executive Active Partnerships 1
Anna Hopkin MBE 1
Anna Scott-Marshall · Director of Communications & Social Impact ParalympicsGB 1
Catherine McKinnell MP · Minister for School Standards Department for Education 1
Councillor Peter Mason · Leader, London Borough of Ealing Local Government Association 1
Emily Robinson · Chief Executive London Sport 1
Huw Edwards · Chief Executive UKactive 1
Jon Cockcroft · Chief Executive Bowls England 1
Jordan Letts · Chief Executive Northampton Saints Foundation 1
Kate Stephens · Chief Executive Chance to Shine 1
Lisa Wainwright MBE · Chief Executive Sport and Recreation Alliance 1
Mark Lawrie · Chief Executive StreetGames 1
Matthew Hopkinson · Deputy Director, Life Skills Division Department for Education 1
Montell Douglas 1
Paige Cronje · Board Director SportCheer England 1
Robert Sullivan · Chief Executive Football Foundation 1
Sarah Kaye · Chief Executive Sported 1
Scott Lloyd · Chief Executive Lawn Tennis Association 1
Stephanie Hilborne OBE · Chief Executive Women in Sport 1
Stephanie Peacock MP · Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth Department for Culture, Media and Sport 1
Stewart Kellett · Chief Executive Basketball England 1
Tim Hollingsworth OBE · Chief Executive Sport England 1

Correspondence

5 letters
DateDirectionTitle
3 Jun 2026 To cttee Letter from Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education, rel…
8 Jul 2025 To cttee Letter from Huw Edwards, Chief Executive, ukactive, regarding oral evidence fol…
1 Jul 2025 To cttee Letter from Tim Hollingsworth, Chief Executive, Sport England, regarding oral e…
17 Jun 2025 To cttee Letter from Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive, Football Foundation, regarding or…
17 Jun 2025 To cttee Letter from Stephanie Peacock MP, Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and …