The National Lottery provides money for mass participation by supplying it to several areas, voluntary sports clubs, local authorities, schools and other types of associations and clubs.
The National Lottery support volunteers who run small, voluntary sector clubs and associations because these clubs and associations provide sporting opportunities for people at all levels, therefore aiming towards mass participation in Sport England’s goals of More People, More Places, More Medals Scheme. The National Lottery provides money to this sector using a selection of funds and initiatives, with funds for the community to funds for just voluntary run football clubs like local youth teams run by parents and enthusiasts.
The National Lottery also provides money to local authorities so they can increase their range in facilities attracting more people to take part in sport and recreation. This section also covers the Active Sports area of the Sport England’s more people plan by trying to encourage and help young children from the age of 8 to 16 to take part in sport and to try achieving success in their chosen sport. The local community also benefits from increased leisure facilities and services which a local authority may provide due to having lottery funding.
Schools also get lottery funding for sporting projects on school sites around the country. Schools are also a part of Sport England’s Scheme in the Active Schools section, where the aim is to provide young people in schools with the opportunity to develop skills in their chosen sport and to help give children the best possible start in PE and sport. Other projects within the community such as housing associations, youth and community groups can all get funding. The National lottery supplies money which covers the whole Sport England scheme, so it doesn’t just cover and provide money to elite individuals but also to encourage participation within schools, voluntarily run clubs and the community via the local authorities.
How might the National Lottery influence my opportunities?
The National Lottery is influencing my opportunities in two ways, one as a swimmer and also as a water polo player. At the current time Leeds City Council is building a new 50 metre swimming and diving facility on the outskirts of Leeds which has been helped with funding by the National Lottery for the project. In years to come when the project is complete it will mean that the training facilities offered to me as a swimmer will be greatly increased. Also as a water polo player I play for the North Eastern Counties district team, which gets indirect funding from the National Lottery via the Amateur Swimming Association. This funding pays for the hiring of facilities for training, coaches and the equipment needed for training. In the past this funding has paid for accommodation and expenses for all the players when we play in competitions away from home, like at the district finals in Loughborough. So the National Lottery has helped me a lot with my sports that I play.
