NI Sports Forum Programme for Government Asks

Following feedback and discussion with sports and organisations, below are summary of points raised and for consideration in individual returns. Overall, sport and Recreation organisations we have spoken with did not believe the PfG reflected the needs of the sector, with only some aspects of relevance.

Although Sport is recognised under Building New Foundations and Shaping a New Tomorrow, there is little/ no reference in e.g. the Health Agenda.

We believe it is vital that organisations make their individual responses and would consider points below to help highlight key challenges as part of the PfG analysis.  End notes include some research that may assist in points.

1. There must be greater recognition of the Sport & Physical Recreation sector as a whole.

   • Sport & Physical Recreation is a significant contributor to tackling the obesity crisis, however, it this is not the only single issue; sport/ recreation also has a significant part to play in addressing overall health outcomes, mental health, educational attainment, community and economic impact.
   • The sector contributes directly and indirectly to all the Missions and Cross cutting principle but is not outlined in immediate priorities.
   • Sport should be considered as a key contributor to Immediate Priorities including:
     • Grow a Globally Competitive and sustainable economy[i].
     • Cutting Health Waiting times[ii]
     • EVAWG proposed Action: Raising awareness
     • Safer Communities

   [i] Economic Value

   • Recent research highlights that the total economic value of sport-related activities in NI reached £867 million and that the local sport sector is responsible for 25,700 full time equivalent jobs in the region (Sport NI, 2015[1])
   • Sport also makes a significant contribution to the UK economy. Statistics published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport estimate that the sport sector contributed £18.1bn to the economy in 2022—0.8% of total economic activity—supporting around 550,000 jobs.[13] From 2010 to 2022 the sector grew by 32.2%, outpacing the rate of growth in the economy more broadly (21.5%).

    

   [ii] Health/ Social Value

   • A healthier population helps reduce costs for the healthcare system:
   • Research conducted by the Sport Industry Research Centre (SIRC) at Sheffield Hallam University for Sport England estimated the value of sport in terms of preventing a number of serious physical and mental health conditions to be around £9.5bn.
   • Sport England research 2024 shows that improved health from participation in sport and physical activity relieves pressure on the NHS through £10.5 billion a year in health and social care savings
   • £107.2 billion – Total annual social value of sport and physical activity in England for 2022-23

    

2. The Active Living Strategy should be a named key action in the PfG.

• We agree that the Sport and Recreation sector should be prioritised, as outlined in New Foundations and Build a Better Tomorrow. The Executive Office should also refer to the outcomes of the Active Living Strategy in order to achieve this (in the same way other Strategies are referenced).
• The Active Living strategy is based on building blocks including Disability Sport, Female Participation, Poverty, Equality and Disadvantage and Physical Literacy.
• The Strategy also incorporates cross departmental objectives including community facilities and Improving physical and mental health and wellbeing.

4. Investment into the Sport & Physical Recreation sector must reflect the impact of activity.

   • Exchequer Investment into SportNI (including Capital) is now c. £7m, compared to an average of c. £14m in 2012-2016 ( a real term cut of 50%).
   • SportNI spend has been equivalent (per capita) to 9.4% lower than Sport Scotland and 15.4% lower than Sport Wales.
   • Lottery Reserves are assisting the sector, however, this will become limited to annual Lottery Investment in upcoming years.
   • An intention to annually increase the % of households that have publicly accessible quality natural space (>2ha within 400m and at least one site >20ha in size within 2km) is welcome. Currently 56.6% of urban households and 8.7% of rural households were found to be within 400m of greenspace (>2ha) and off-road trails. This means that significant additional access will need to be created in order to meet these targets.
   • Multi year funding to sports organisations is critical.  The current annual funding model is limiting some organisations’ ability to deliver strategies.  Reform and Transformation of the Voluntary Sector must include multi year funding models and core funding considerations for sport  to allow better and more effective planning by sports bodies.

   `             How can Investment be increased?

   • Through ‘Legacy funding’ for sport and physical activity projects alone, we estimate that over £170.6m additional funding has been due to Northern Ireland in Barnett consequential over the last 10 years. Some of  this has been allocated to the likes of the Auroral Swimming Pool, Stadia Projects and Boxing, however we estimate this remains at a shortfall of over £110m by comparison to England alone since 2017.
   • Over £10m comes to NI through the Sugar Tax levy annually, due to help support anti- obesity initiatives, but has not been ringfenced in NI (unlike other home nations). This has been equated to over £65m since 2018.

5. Grassroots Facilities need substantial investment

• In the 2024-25 financial year there is no significant new capital investment available for sports clubs, outside of Your School Your Club.
• The Programme for Government must outline a Sports Facilities Plan, for both indoor and outdoor facilities, as demand in a lot of sports is outstripping supply.
• A consistent investment plan should be developed to allow annual support for clubs to upgrade, develop or undertake essential maintenance as a minimum. This is mentioned in the draft PfG, however a clear and impactful investment plan is now urgently needed.

5. Support for Governing Body sporting events is needed.

• International Sporting Events bring significant economic impacts to NI and should be a priority. The PfG and Action Plan should include sporting events from across the sector. [iii]
• Costs to bring sporting events to NI can save athletes and teams essential expenditure. An increased recognition of the role domestic events play is needed with potential financial support to secure snakker events in NI.

Other points

• There is no/ little reference to Section 75 groups in the PfG that impact on the Equality and Diversity agenda.
• Volunteering indicates an improving situation, but little recognition of the significant drop since Covid and no mention within the PfG.
• We welcome that an Environment Strategy is outlined and means for some progress for water quality monitoring specific to Lough Neagh, however, this needs to be across bodies of water where recreational use is high.
• An new Outdoor Recreation Bill is needed. Current legislation (1983) is now more than 40 years old and is out of date and inadequate for the needs of society and land owners.

[i] Economic Value

• Recent research highlights that the total economic value of sport-related activities in NI reached £867 million and that the local sport sector is responsible for 25,700 full time equivalent jobs in the region (Sport NI, 2015[1])
• Sport also makes a significant contribution to the UK economy. Statistics published by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport estimate that the sport sector contributed £18.1bn to the economy in 2022—0.8% of total economic activity—supporting around 550,000 jobs.[13] From 2010 to 2022 the sector grew by 32.2%, outpacing the rate of growth in the economy more broadly (21.5%).

[ii] Health/ Social Value

• A healthier population helps reduce costs for the healthcare system:
• Research conducted by the Sport Industry Research Centre (SIRC) at Sheffield Hallam University for Sport England estimated the value of sport in terms of preventing a number of serious physical and mental health conditions to be around £9.5bn.
• Sport England research 2024 shows that improved health from participation in sport and physical activity relieves pressure on the NHS through £10.5 billion a year in health and social care savings
• £107.2 billion – Total annual social value of sport and physical activity in England for 2022-23

[iii] Sporting Events

• In 2023 UK Sport recognised that Sporting Events bring an excess of £6 for £1 investment with a direct economic impact of £373 million across 16 UK Sport-supported Events. None of these were held in NI.