As Sports Think Tank Director Andy Reed OBE was asked by the Sports Minister Tracey Crouch MP in the Summer of 2016 to carry out an appraisal of the CSPs as outlined in the government's Sporting Future strategy.
Andy's report was delivered to the Minister at DCMS on 11th August 2016 and published on the Sport England website.
Andy said:
"I am delighted to have been asked to conduct this independent appraisal of the CSPs in their local communities in light of the new Government strategy, 'Sporting Future' and the evolving local landscape in communities across the country. I would like to receive as many views as possible in the consultation period and will engage widely with stakeholder to make sure all voices are heard. I look forward to hearing from people and organisations with their suggestions about the best way forward. During this process I will be stepping aside from my role as Chair of Leicestershire & Rutland Sport while doing this."
A spokesperson from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said:
"Government's new sport and physical activity strategy 'Sporting Future' is about getting everyone active. An integral part of this is enabling the development of locally-focused solutions which are tailored to what the customer wants. In considering this delivery at the local level, we now have the opportunity to look at the role of CSPs in helping to deliver the strategy. CSPs have already done a lot of good work which we recognise, and we want to build on that. We now want a clear vision for CSPs of the future, which are working in the best way possible to enable local people to get active. We are very happy that Andy is leading this work and are confident that he will offer a robust and thoughtful analysis."
Mike Diaper, Executive Director Community Sport at Sport England, said:
"We welcome the Government's new strategy – Sporting Futures – and the timing of this independent appraisal. Andy is very familiar with how sport works at a local level and we are confident he will bring a balanced and objective approach to this piece of work. We would encourage all CSPs to engage in this process and make their voice heard. The recommendations from Andy's appraisal will contribute to how we work with the sector to deliver the outcomes in Sporting Future."
Lee Mason, Chief Executive, CSPN said:
"As with any national policy, the success of the new Government Sport Strategy will depend on the way it is embraced and delivered locally. This is therefore an excellent opportunity to consider how we can maximise the contribution of the national network of CSPs. We want to build on our progress over recent years and ensure we continue to evolve to meet the needs of our customers, communities and partners in the future. This process will help us to secure an agreed vision for the next generation of CSPs."
This report highlights the need for greater consistency of service delivery, accountability and transparency for Sport England investment in the CSP network. It also calls for a new 'core purpose and specification' for CSPs. CSPs will continue to play an important role alongside other partners in the delivery of the Sport England and DCMS strategies.