Sporting Opportunities (Hansard, 25 May 2000)

§ Kate Hoey

Our recently published sports strategy—A Sporting Future for All—and the report of Policy Action Team 10, recognise the unique contribution which sport can make to tackling social exclusion. As a result, we will be working with other agencies to develop creative and innovative ways of using sport to re-engage people and equip them with the skills and confidence to re-join the main stream of society. We have also asked all funding bodies in sport to ensure that the promotion of social inclusion is a key part of all their work, and have called for a concerted effort to recruit, train and support more women, people with disabilities and people from ethnic minority groups as coaches, officials and sports administrators. All agencies receiving public funding will be required to demonstrate that they have adopted pro-active solutions to any inequities which exist.

Sport England's Lottery Strategy, which was published in May last year, sets out its commitment to target funding at social inclusion and deprived areas. This means that at least two-thirds of its Lottery funds are invested in community facilities or activities, of which at least 50 per cent. will go to areas of greatest need; young people, recreationally deprived groups and people with disabilities are a priority; and equality of access for all. Specific programmes include the Priority Areas Initiative which targets deprived areas and allows a higher rate of funding and Sport Action Zones, the first 12 of which were announced in January, which aim to provide comprehensive sports development infrastructures aimed at increasing opportunities for participation in some of the most recreationally deprived areas of the country. Sport England will also be using its powers of solicitation to invite applications for funding from schools in Sport Action Zones, Education Action Zones and Excellence in Cities areas.