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Top storySport England breaks down £45m sustainability investment
Sport England has committed £45m ($57.2m/€52.7m) to combat the climate crisis as part of its first-ever environmental sustainability strategy titled Every Move.
Every Move includes the major new investment which is aimed at helping sport and the physical activity sector respond to climate change.
Of the money, £10m is committed to the organisation’s flood relief fund which helps the restoration of sports pitches that are impacted by flooding.
Some £20m has been put towards creating active environments. This will mean promoting physical and mental wellbeing opportunities in the natural environment and working to reduce and mitigate climate change, promote biodiversity, and improve Sport England’s connection to nature.
The remainder is expected to be invested in projects where sustainability is a key focus and will benefit sports participation.
The package, which comes from National Lottery funding, also builds on the £80m joint investment by Sport England and the UK Government in the Swimming Pool Support Fund to make hundreds of swimming pools across the country more environmentally friendly and financially sustainable.
“We hope the money will make a significant impact,” Environmental Sustainability Strategic Lead at Sport England Denise Ludlam told Global Sustainable Sport.
“We will be working closely with clubs and organisations to ensure the funding is used effectively. We have accounted for year one of the sustainability plan and significant projects will have funds allocated to them in future years.”
Sport England is ramping up its sustainability efforts and taking a strict approach with federations that it provides funding for.
“Without change now, the government’s target to get 3.5 million more people active by 2030 is very much in jeopardy – and our children will be the ones to suffer most.”
The body invests more than £300m of public money each year to organisations such as the Rugby Football Union and England and Wales Cricket Board.
While the £45m will not go to these directly, there is still ongoing support from Sport England to ensure environmentally friendly action is taken.
“We are providing resources and guidance to support our partners to develop sustainability action plans and ensure they comply with the Code for Sports Governance,” said Ludlam.
“We expect the scope of these action plans will be proportionate to the size and make-up of the organisation.”
The latest investment comes after new research found that three in every five adults and children said that extreme weather has had a negative impact on their ability to be active.
One in four of the children negatively affected cited the cancellation of physical education and games lessons.
“There is no doubt that our changing climate is already impacting our opportunities, motivation and ability to be active,” said Sport England chair Chris Boardman.
“Extreme weather is increasingly making it difficult for us to live healthy, active lives by creating a ‘doom loop’ where people become less motivated and more fearful of injury, with sporting opportunities increasingly cancelled and disrupted.
“Without change now, the government’s target to get 3.5 million more people active by 2030 is very much in jeopardy – and our children will be the ones to suffer most.”
Image: Sport England