Investment needed to keep wolves from grassroots door
Grassroots sport across the West Midlands has called on government to do more to back local clubs in order to avert the risk that many community hubs in the Black Country and beyond will be lost to economic pressures.
New research from leading charity Sported has found that 78 per cent of clubs and groups surveyed in the region believe there isn’t enough investment into grassroots sport to back its impact at a community level. Only 3 per cent believed that there is enough investment.
And it comes as nearly two-thirds of those surveyed (64%) confirm that young people in their group have disengaged from, or reduced participation in, sport and physical activity over the past six months because they can no longer afford to travel to activities.
The report, produced in in conjunction with home security company Ring, found being able to afford to participate was also cited as a major factor with 52% citing it as a barrier to young people taking part.
Over half of groups (55%) said that availability of facilities was a significant challenge for them. Affordability for those renting facilities was a similar challenge (52%), with maintenance and upkeep (43%) and running costs (40%) challenges for those owning their own facilities.
When asked what they would raise with the nation’s Sports Minister, five key themes emerged in the Sported/Ring research. Increasing funding for grassroots and community sport; creating a more equitable funding model with more focus on community groups and their needs (as well as a wider variety of activities and sports); the affordability and accessibility of venues and facilities; and, expanding opportunities for participation across communities.
“Grassroots sport is an extraordinary tool for change in communities across the Black Country and its impact should not be underestimated,” said Sarah Kaye, CEO of Sported.
“It wasn’t that long ago that the Commonwealth Games brought international stars to the region to compete in world-class facilities. However grassroots groups and clubs do not always get the recognition they deserve from government in creating real opportunities for our young people.
"All of them are addressing the challenge of cultivating a healthier society, but they are also incredibly effective in addressing challenges such as community cohesion, inclusion, crime prevention and employability.
“By empowering grassroots sport and investing into the ecosystem around it, there is a real return through sowing the seeds for a level playing field for our next generation, on and off the court or pitch.”
The research from Sported, who support around 5,000 grassroots groups reaching one million young people around the UK, highlights an increased recognition of the role that these organisations play in delivering social impact.
86 per cent of grassroots sports clubs surveyed in the West Midlands said they get inactive young people active, as well as improving mental health, confidence and self-esteem amongst young people.
Further benefits of taking part in physical activity for young people were revealed by the groups as including increased sense of belonging, and reduced stress and anxiety.
