Sport England’s business objectives are:
1. Opportunities to play sport
Increase participation in sport in order to improve the health of the nation, with a focus on priority groups
2. Opportunities to stay in sport
Retain people in sport and active recreation through an effective network of clubs, sports facilities, coaches, volunteers and competitive opportunities
3. Opportunities to achieve success in sport
Promoting-sporting success at the highest level
Who is Sport England accountable to?
Sport England is accountable to Parliament through the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Its work is scrutinised by the House of Commons through the Culture, Media and Sports Select Committee and the Public Accounts Committee.
How does Sport England work?
Sport England's work is guided by committees of the Council of Sport England. Members of the Council are appointed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
The Council is responsible for:
- Approving all policy matters and operational and corporate plans for Sport England
- Bringing an independent judgement to bear on issues of corporate strategy, performance, resources, key appointments and standards of conduct
- Ensuring that public funds are properly applied and safeguarded, and that Sport England operates economically, efficiently and effectively at all time.
Sport England's central support office in London works closely with nine regional offices across England. Sport England employees work hand-in-hand with an extensive network of partners and contacts across the private and public sectors.
These include local authorities, sports governing bodies and national and regional organisations concerned with sport, recreation, education and environment.
How does Sport England fund its work?
Sport England's work is jointly funded by the Exchequer and the National Lottery. Its grant-in-aid from the Exchequer goes primarily towards maintaining England's sports infrastructure. Through the Sport England Lottery Fund, Sport England distributes National Lottery funds earmarked for the development of sport in England.
When was Sport England established?
Sport England was previously known as the English Sports Council, which began operating under Royal Charter in January 1997. Prior to this, the GB Sports Council had responsibility for the development of sport and the co-ordination of issues such as the operation of doping control services across the UK. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland already had their own Sports Councils.
In 1995, extensive consultation and debate dating back to 1987 culminated in the Government policy paper 'Sport: Raising the Game'. From this, a more streamlined structure for the organisation of sport in the UK emerged and the GB Sports Council disappeared. It was replaced by the newly established English Sports Council, which took responsibility for the development of sport in England. The Sports Councils for , and remained virtually unchanged and another new organisation - the now known as UK Sport - took responsibility for issues that needed to be dealt with at UK level.
The introduction of numerous new initiatives by sport England has meant that:
- More people involved in sport
- More places to play sport
- More medals through higher standards of performance in sport
Sport England has made sport for young people a lot more accessible than it was before 1997 (sport England introduced in 1997). Sport England has created the opportunity for young kids and students to be able to participate in sport. Also Sport England introduced in primary schools P.E. fact cards/programme cards, these cards have information on how to construct a lesson for the young children. Also with these cards are the equipment needed to participate in the sport.
Sport England has helped the children of the united kingdom to perform in a sport as best as they can and give less fortunate people a chance to make a career out of sport.
Sport England has help schools by providing very generous amounts of money with the help from the national lottery to ensure that schools have the most sports available as they possibly can. For example the new sports hall, which was funded by the national lottery.
