- Chancellor expected to confirm £700 million to improve sports and youth clubs.
- Up to 8,000 state-of-the-art sports pitches to be built or improved across the UK to ensure every young person has a chance to take up sport.
- Hundreds of youth facilities to be built or refurbished across England and the National Citizen Service to continue helping young people to build confidence and leadership skills outside of school.
As part of the government’s drive to level up the country, local communities will benefit from a £700 million wave of investment in football pitches, tennis courts, and youth facilities to help build the next generation of young talent, the Chancellor is expected to announce next week.
Following on from England’s roaring success at the Euros (Eh? – Ed.) and Emma Raducanu’s US Open victory, Rishi Sunak is set to announce new funding to build or improve up to 8,000 state-of-the-art sports pitches in villages, towns, and cities across the UK, as well as supporting a range of projects, including new clubhouses and community buildings.
This sits alongside the government’s commitment to refurbish more than 4,500 tennis courts across Great Britain.
Up to 300 youth facilities, which could include scout huts, youth centres and activity centres, will also be built or refurbished in the most deprived areas, and funding will be committed to continue the National Citizen Service until 2024/25 – which provides 16-17 years olds from all backgrounds the opportunity to mix with their peers outside of school.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak said: “We’re backing the next generation of Ward-Prowses and Raducanus, not just sporting stars, but inspiring young leaders. Sports can be a fantastic way for young people to make friends and learn skills they’ll use for the rest of their lives – leadership, teamwork, and determination.
“This funding will level up access to sport and social clubs for youngsters ensuring they can get together and play the games they love most.”
Nadine Dorries, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said: “I want every young person, no matter where they’re from, to have the chance to get the best start in life and achieve success.
“This £700 million investment is a downpayment on our commitment to open doors for those who have been shut out. It will give young people the pitches and clubhouses they deserve to reap the benefits of sport and youth groups and help level up the country for the next generation.”
Robert Sullivan, Football Foundation Chief Executive Officer, said: “This investment is welcome news for all those involved in grassroots football across the country.
“We know that playing on good quality facilities helps people get fitter, improves mental wellbeing, grows confidence and builds stronger relationships. This is all essential for individuals and communities as we emerge out of the Covid-19 crisis.
“With the government, Premier League and The FA’s investment, we have made plenty of progress in the last two decades, but there is still lots of work to do to ensure all communities across England get the standard of local sports facilities they need and deserve.
“This new funding will unlock the power of even more pitches to help transform people’s lives.”
Mark Bullingham, Chief Executive of The FA said: “This investment into grassroots football pitches and multi-sport facilities is fantastic news for communities throughout the country.
“It will help the nation get active as we emerge from the impact of Covid. This is an important part of the Government’s £550m commitment to transform our grassroots football infrastructure, which will have a massive social and economic impact”.
Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of Sport England said: ‘We welcome the government’s decision to continue to invest in our young people and provide vital funding to support the facilities we need to enable sport in our communities.
‘There has never been a more important time to get the nation active and give people the opportunity to play sport, no matter their background.’
The government is investing £173 million to fund the continuation of the National Citizen Service in England; £368 million to fund up to 300 youth centres across England; and £155 million additional funding is being provided to invest in multi-use sports pitches and facilities throughout the UK.
DCMS will also receive a further £20 million to invest in youth services in England and the government will set out more detail in due course.
This builds on the government’s commitment to sport, having announced £50m of UK sports facility funding in July, as part of our ambition to ensure that you are never more than 15 minutes away from a high-quality pitch; and is in addition to the £30 million investment to refurbish more than 4,500 tennis courts across Great Britain; and the £25 million provided by the Chancellor for grassroots sports facilities throughout the UK at Spring Budget 2021.
The UK Government’s Plan for Jobs is also helping young people find new opportunities and better paid work; the government recently announced a £500 million extension of its supported schemes – targeted at young workers – including extensions to the Kickstart scheme, Job Entry Targeted Support Scheme, and the £3,000 incentive payment for businesses to hire apprentices.
