TCSF - Response to the Comprehensive Spending Review Announcements

2012 legacy in jeopardy following 162m cut to school sports.

Derek Wyatt former Rugby International, MP & Trustee of The Community Sports Foundation says: 'George Osborne's drastic cuts to the school sports fund are cause for great concern. Levels of fitness in children and young people are at an all-time low, it's an embarrassment that the host nation of the next Olympics is diverting its attention away from the matter. My only hope is that what funding remains will be invested in proven methods that work instead of expensive and radical ideas. This is not an area to be handled by have-a-go members of a big society, it should be a subject for trained experts. Charities such as the Foundation help to bridge the gap but rely so heavily on public donations and corporate sponsorship that the full ramifications of the Spending Review will not be known until the we actually see how the economy absorbs the shock.'

Joseph Noble, CEO of The Community Sports Foundation adds: 'Switching to lottery funding instead of using the budget that had been allocated to the extended schools sports co-coordinators could actually release some finance that would have previously been spent on salaries. This new approach could also effectively empower schools to distribute the funds as they see fit. This, in-part, is a positive move because nobody understands the needs of their pupils more than the teachers themselves. Extensive consultation with schools across the country reveals, however, that teachers do not necessarily understand how sport can help to meet these needs; they do not have access to the information necessary to enable them to make informed choices.'

Mr Noble continues: 'Teachers are trained to teach, they are not qualified or experienced sports coaches and do not understand the most effective way to inspire their pupils through sport. Without dedicated PE teachers, primary schools can suffer particularly from a lack of expertise about how to apply sports knowledge to engage their pupils. While the diverted lottery funding is good on paper, our concern is that, without charities like us, funding may not be sent through the most beneficial channels.'

Background: Following the Comprehensive Spending Review, the Department for Culture, Media and Sports now faces an overall budget cut of 24% (1.1bn). Sports administrators take comfort in the knowledge that the 24% cuts will be partly negated through changes to the lottery funding formula and that the Olympic Games budget remains largely protected. The international sporting event’s legacy, however, is under threat because the 162m of funding dedicated for school sport has been decimated by the scrapping of the school sports programme.

The Community Sports Foundation (TCSF) supplies grant funding, qualified coaches, sporting initiatives and quality sports coaching and leadership training to benefit able-bodied and disabled children, young people and communities in poor health or disadvantaged areas. Those that receive TCSF support also benefit from carefully planned programmes of activity and ongoing monitoring to ensure an effective, positive impact.

Support The Community Sports Foundation and become part of real sporting legacy: telephone 0203 346 3064.