How can MPs and Lords and community - sports organisations work more closely together? That was the question at the RT I attended on behalf of the SFDC and organised by the Labour Society for Sport.
I was pleased to be able to speak for the Sport for Development Coalition - as a UK-wide movement of 400-plus charities and civil society organisations, leagues, clubs and networks over-arching thousands of programmes intentionally using targeted sport and physical activity-based interventions to address health and societal inequalities. For me the work of the organisations in this network embody all that is good about sport changing lives. They are specifically set up to do just that - not as an accidental by-product.
✔️ There was a refreshing open discussion and good input from MP's thanks to Mike Reader for hosting and being an example of an MP 'Who gets it'.
🔊 I have to admit as I go around the hamster wheel once again I wonder how much longer I can keep banging the same drum (I do try different tunes and approaches!) but meetings like this re-light the spark. Since I started talking about sport and physical activity in Parliament over 20 years ago we have made progress but sometimes we don't quite see the scale because our ambitions are even greater. And sometimes we do go backwards!
💼 Putting sport and physical activity at the heart of policy making across the government agenda is the test for me of long term cross-departmental mission led government. There are some immediate wins (Falls prevention) to long term health and social benefits. But we still need to embed the best practise into all policy making. I have often suggested submissions to Minister should include 'what is the impact on physical activity and movement of this policy'
The discussion was deliberately wide ranging showing the scale of the impact of sport and physical activity in every constituency. Some great input and insight as always from Jack Baker and the LTA, from Peter Middlehurst at the Premier League and Premier League Foundation Community Leisure UK Women's Super League Football and Martyn Brett-Lee from PureGym. I know from our work at the The Sports Think Tank there are hundreds of other examples!
Took the chance to double my contribution speaking for Ben Jessup and Active Together with Sport England connections at local level. And one more push for the CASC scheme for clubs who aren't yet benefitting! Brilliant to see Molly Hartill in her new role.
The launch of the National Youth Strategy today marks another opportunity for our sector. We need to grab these moments even if they are not perfect. The glass is always half full!
So as my term as Chair of the Sport for Development Coalition comes to an end in January, I won't let go of my campaigning zeal for the coaltion and its network.
Thanks to Stuart Brady Lizzi Holman for organising.