Leading Northamptonshire physical activity, health and wellbeing charity Northamptonshire Sport is among the first group of over 40 organisations working in partnership with Sport England to receive funding from its new funding model. Northamptonshire Sport has a foundational role in the sport and physical activity sector and is therefore well placed to help level up access to sport and physical activity across the country.
Northamptonshire Sport will receive an investment of £2,600,000 over five years of government and National Lottery funding from Sport England. Northamptonshire Sport has been awarded long-term funding because it has committed to co-deliver change at a national and local level, to help more people enjoy the benefits of playing sport and being active.
All partner organisations were selected by Sport England due to their ability to influence positive change and improvement throughout the sector, their own networks, and beyond. This is the first step on a journey to revolutionise Sport England’s approach to long-term partnerships which will see it build new relationships with innovative organisations, as well with existing partners, local partners and delivery partners to further the Uniting the Movement strategy.
Sport England research shows that some groups are typically less active – like women, people with long-term health conditions, disabled people, people from ethnically diverse communities and lower socio-economic groups. Right now, the opportunities to get involved in sport and activity – and reap the rewards of being active – depend too much on your background, your gender, your bank balance and your postcode.
Northamptonshire Sport will use this investment to tackle these long-standing inequalities, that have only been made worse by the pandemic. With the aim to make being active an easier choice in people’s everyday lives, the focus will be on building capacity in communities to be active themselves, creating a workforce that matches people’s need and shaping an environment that enables active lifestyles.
Over £193 million is being invested for this first group, with the 43 partners including Northamptonshire Sport receiving funding for up to five years. This new funding model from Sport England provides longer-term financial security as organisations recover and reinvent from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chris Holmes, Northamptonshire Sport Chief Executive, said
“We’re delighted to have received this investment from Sport England and will be working incredibly hard to make a real difference here in Northamptonshire in terms of physical activity and sport. The 5 year commitment speaks to the size of the challenge, that maintaining a healthy active lifestyle isn’t straight-forward and needs long-term changes in the world around us to make it easier – accessible green spaces, safe cycling routes, welcoming clubs and activities at a time to suit”.
