WIREDGOV

Chair of the Local Government Association’s Culture Tourism and Sport Board, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson responded to Sport England’s new Uniting the Movement strategy 

“Councils are working hard to try and ensure sport and leisure facilities are available once national restrictions are eased and will have a key role to play in realising this Strategy’s ambitions. We look forward to working collaboratively with Sport England to implement it and are pleased to see its emphasis on collaborative working across all sectors and partners. This will be essential if we are to tackle entrenched health inequalities and help the nation recover from COVID-19 – physically, mentally and economically.

“The strategy places an important focus on children and young people, with both groups adversely affected by the closure of schools, sports and indoor play facilities and community clubs. While it is right that there is focus on the impact of the pandemic on their education and future opportunities, an emphasis should also be placed on their physical and mental health and health literacy. 

“We are pleased to see the Strategy’s focus on BAME communities and those with disabilities who have been severely impacted by the pandemic, whether that be through deaths, digital poverty or a lack of accessibility to parks, private gardens and green spaces to exercise.”

New strategy puts sport and physical activity at heart of nation’s recovery