Community Sport Groups under Threat?
The cost of living crisis has brought tremendous uncertainty, and the sport organisations are definitely not immune to this. Sport clubs that represent the beating heart of many communities face uncertain futures die to rising operational costs.
We have all noticed a price increase in fuel, energy and food over the past year. At Big Help Project we have heard so many stories of people facing the stark choice between heating and eating. For many people who take part in physical activity recreationally, paying for sports sessions, gym memberships and a PT is still viewed as a luxury, but one that is part of their normative behaviour. For others, involvement in physical activity is becoming dependent on free participation via community sport groups, and due to the great financial burden that energy prices bring, most community groups are struggling with these new existing conditions.
A report published in May 2022 revealed that over 2,600 grassroots football teams had folded and a further 6,000 teams have folded in the the following months. The majority of parents and responsible adults surveyed said that affordability was getting in the way of their child’s participation (68%). Costs for parents include subsidies, equipment travel. A further 43% of parents stated that being able to afford new school uniforms, shoes, bags and schooling equipment is a greater priority than leisure activities. As a result of this bleak financial situation, it is estimated that 4.4million children across Britain are not able to participate in the sports that interest them, with potential long term effects on children’s mental and physical health. Research indicates that parents money worries through no fault of their own are stripping kids of the opportunity to participate in sports. It is difficult to see that this crisis is extending to young people and their ability to participate in physical activity.
Tammy Burgess, Head of Wellbeing at Big Help Project comments on the issue: “It’s a lot more than just sport, Kids will also get support with everything from their education, to help navigating whatever family crises they may be going through.”
“Without them kids will have nowhere to go, and that won’t end well. The costs to society further down the line, in terms of mental health issues and crime and so on, will be far greater than the sums needed to keep them going."
But, the issues do not stop at the disposable income of parents. Organisations that facilitate children’s sport activities have reported an increase in costs of 20%. Organisations have reported loses of over £100 for every 2 hour long session delivered. Sported, a network of nearly 3,000 community sports groups, estimates that tens of thousands of young people in the UK will miss out on sport and physical activity as a result of the cost-of-living crisis, even when those activities are free. Furthermore community sport organisations are often reliant on volunteers to help drive community outreach projects and programmes. For volunteers, a reduced income is likely to impact on their free time and willingness to spend money on travel to get to sessions and events Some 60% of community groups need between £1,000 - £9,999 to support their cost of living priorities over the next six months but almost half reported a drop in financial support (such as from local businesses, trusts and foundations) for their vital work in the community.
Here at the Big Help Project we are encouraging organisations within the Liverpool City Region (LCR) with innovative ideas for projects that will support the local area, to apply for funding. Our funding has been utilised by so many community sport initiatives based within the LCR. Through these resources many wonderful projects have been able to bring about change and achieve organisational goals, such as, supporting local communities; protection and assistance of marginalised or excluded groups; and keeping valuable services running.
Without grant funding community organisations will find it almost impossible to operate during this tough period. So many of these organisations are facing a clear and present danger of extinction. We must ensure that these pillars of our communities are protected and their services continue to support those most vulnerable in our society.