A Sporting Future for London April 2009
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April 2009 A Sporting Future for London April 2009 A Sporting Future for London Greater London Authority April 2009 Published by Greater London Authority City Hall The Queen’s Walk More London London SE1 2AA www.london.gov.uk enquiries 020 7983 4100 minicom 020 7983 4458 ISBN 978-1-84781-251-3 Cover photograph: © GLA Photographs © Sport England unless otherwise stated. Copies of this report are available from www.london.gov.uk Contents 3 Mayor’s Foreword 5 Foreword by Kate Hoey 7 1 Introduction 9 2 The current picture 11 3 Delivering the Mayor’s commitment 17 4 London’s legacy goals 19 Appendix A 39 Endnotes 41 4 A Sporting Future for London Mayor’s Foreword 5 Now that the spectacular Beijing Olympics are fading in the collective memory like a firework on closing night, the eyes of the world turn to London as we prepare for the 2012 Games. One of the main reasons we were awarded the Games was that we made a firm commitment to use them work together – the 33 boroughs, to transform the sporting landscape – Sport England, the national governing providing a lasting legacy of engaging bodies of sport, and all those groups people in sport and providing the and organisations already doing infrastructure and support necessary wonderful things in our communities. for them to enjoy it. With a co-ordinated effort from all There are now just over three years of us our goals can be realised, and remaining until 2012, and this a genuine legacy can be assured that document outlines how we intend will last long after the Games have to achieve this. We will be doing drawn to a close, securing London in so because sport for sports sake its position as the true home of sport. should be celebrated. But we will also be doing so because of the huge benefits that it brings to our community. Sport can act as a great leveller – allowing people from all Boris Johnson backgrounds to come together and Mayor of London join in positive activity. It can help our young people stay healthy, and it can help tackle issues such as obesity, academic underachievement, and crime. I am personally committed to making sport and physical activity accessible to all, and this is a rallying call for all those involved with their delivery to 6 A Sporting Future for London Foreword by Kate Hoey 7 Throughout my long involvement bring about a sustained increase in sport in London, I have been in participation in sport and humbled by the dedication, physical activity. innovation and enthusiasm of the people at the grass-roots – those The reality is that, despite all that who go far beyond the call of duty; has gone before, we face huge giving up many hours of their challenges of rising obesity and time to provide opportunities for falling participation. Our objective participation to people of all ages. must be to find new ways to engage With this document, we are seeking people of all ages, and to empower to highlight some of this good work our communities and clubs, acting as and to set us on a path that will a catalyst for genuine change. This allow these people to do what they plan provides a foundation on which do best, bringing the great joy of we all can build. sport and physical activity to every single Londoner. The new London Community Sports Board will provide a strategic forum to From day one, the Mayor pledged be the driving force. The key people to provide new investment for grass- from the public, private, voluntary roots sport in London and now he is and charitable sectors will ensure that delivering on that pledge. At least the proposals are delivered. It will also £30 million will be invested into be a focal point for sport in London London over the next three years. As and an independent-minded forum Commissioner for Sport, I recognise with the best interests of Londoners that this commitment is unique – not at its heart. With this in place; with just in terms of the investment, but the Mayor’s investment; and while also in terms of the high priority that sport speaks with one clear voice, I he has given to grass-roots sport. am confident that when the curtain comes down on 2012, every Londoner This document has been supported will feel that they have gained by every key stakeholder. For something worthwhile. perhaps the first time, everyone is pulling in the same direction, determined to grasp the unique opportunity afforded by the 2012 Kate Hoey Olympic and Paralympic Games. Commissioner for Sport We believe that we can do what no other Olympic City has ever done: 8 A Sporting Future for London 1 Introduction 9 1. Why we are publishing ring-fence £15.5 million over this document the next three years for investment London’s successful bid to host the in programmes associated with 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games this plan. was in no small part based around a commitment to using the Games to To maximise the benefits associated transform the sporting landscape of with this investment recipients this country. will be required to provide match funding. This means that we will It was hoped that the Games would deliver more than £30 million of be used as a catalyst to drive up investment into grass roots sport and participation across the country and physical activity in London. help to tackle issues such as obesity, ill health and crime. 4. Strengthening the link between sport and physical There are now just over three years activity remaining until the Games start. With This plan is about increasing this document, the Mayor of London participation in sport and physical is seeking to play his part in ensuring activity. that the commitment is fulfilled. Whilst there are definitions of what 2. Aim each of these mean, on the ground To deliver a grass-roots sporting the division is far more blurred. legacy for Londoners from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by: We recognise that for many people, • securing a sustained increase in particularly older people, physical participation in sport and physical activity is an easier and more activity amongst Londoners appropriate avenue. Initiatives such • using sport to assist in tackling as the Green Gym programme1, social problems including ill health, which encourages outdoor activity, crime, academic underachievement are hugely valuable in terms of and lack of community cohesion. improving health, building self- confidence and, in some cases, 3. The Mayor’s investment in providing a pathway into sport. grass-roots sport and physical activity The nationwide NHS programme, In January 2009, the Mayor directed ‘Change for Life’2, which focuses the London Development Agency to on getting more people active is 10 A Sporting Future for London supported by the GLA and by This document is a call to work in Sport England. partnership and to give added impetus to ongoing work. The NHS has also produced a promoting activity toolkit aimed at It is clear from consultation that there increasing levels of physical activity.3 is a need for greater co-ordination and collaboration across London. NHS London is currently developing A new strategic forum, the London a health legacy plan aimed at Community Sports Board, will be increasing levels of physical activity established by the Mayor to improve amongst Londoners. Throughout co-ordination of ongoing activity, the consultation process, we have drive delivery and monitor progress worked closely with NHS London towards meeting the legacy goals to ensure that our approaches are set out in section four. This will by complementary. This will continue as chaired by the Mayor’s Commissioner we move forward towards 2012. for Sport and will have representation from local authorities, Sport England 5. Moving forward in (in the form of a Ministerial nominee) partnership and other key stakeholders. Further There is much good work going on details are set out in section three. already in London. Local Authorities, Sport England, UK Sport, the There is likely to be a flurry of activity LDA, the BOA, the five Pro-Active between now and 2012 at a national Partnerships4, the Youth Sport Trust, and local level, with new initiatives the national governing bodies of being developed and launched. More sport, voluntary groups and a number widely, the landscape in the lead up to of other organisations all have plans 2012 is likely to change considerably. affecting grass roots sport in London. We will be flexible in our approach and regularly review and update what Primary Care Trusts are also growing we do to reflect the changing picture more aware of the value of investing across the UK and London. in sport and physical activity as a means of ‘preventative medicine’. The Mayor has already initiated discussions aimed at developing the role of PCTs in this area. 2 The current picture 11 1. Ongoing work badminton, judo, table tennis and volleyball by 2012 Department for Culture, Media • the second National School Sports and Sport (DCMS) Week and the fourth School The DCMS document ‘Before, during Games, to be held in summer and after: making the most of the 2009; and London 2012 Games’5 sets out key • ‘International Inspiration’ – a global objectives for London 2012 partners: programme aiming to get more • making the UK a world-leading children participating in sport. sporting nation • transforming the heart of Local Authorities east London London’s local authorities fund and • inspiring a generation of deliver more sport than all the other young people ‘sporting’ agencies put together.