9 November 2015 Dear Prime Minister When you spoke at the Welcome Party for the Rugby World Cup you said that Sport changes lives. We completely agree with you sport improves the health and physical and emotional well-being of the nation, plays an important role in our communities, creates a sense of pride and citizenship, develops our young people and creates great economic benefits. That is why we - the national governing bodies of sport and recreation and our umbrella body the Sport and Recreation Alliance - are urging you to ensure that the Spending Review settlement and the upcoming new strategy for sport provides the basis for a truly active nation. As we launch the Get Your Kit On campaign we urge your Government to do what it has said it will do place sport and physical activity at the heart of its policies across government. The public is on our side and recent polling we have commissioned tells us that: 79% of the population agree that the Government should do more to support grassroots sports; 75% of the population agree that grassroots sport should receive more funding from the Government; 86% agree that Sport plays a vital part in the education of children. Infrastructure is a priority for Government but sporting infrastructure requires investment too - not just in facilities, kits and clubhouses, but in volunteers, in coaches and in community programmes. Like HS2 and airport capacity, deciding to invest in sport will help to decide the future health, happiness and identity of the nation. Of course in the current economic climate investment has to be made wisely it is not simply about wanting more money with a recognition that the value of that investment cannot and should not just be measured in medals and participation figures.
The upcoming sport strategy provides you with the opportunity to show in a fully joined up way, that the Government values the contribution sport makes. We, the sector, stand ready to play our part. By prioritising public funding for sport your Government will leave a great legacy for the nation. We urge you to support the Get Your Kit On campaign and support us in our aim to create a truly active nation. Yours sincerely, Joanne Adams, CEO, England Netball Emma Boggis, CEO, Sport and Recreation Alliance Paul Chambers, CEO, Boccia England Mark Coups, CEO, England Lacrosse Michael Downey, CEO, Lawn Tennis Tim Fawke, CEO, Snowsport England Mike Hamilton, CEO, British Orienteering Matt Holt, CEO, British Amateur Boxing Chris Jones, CEO, England Athletics Peter King, CEO, British Canoeing Ashley Metcalfe, British Weightlifting Sally Munday, CEO, England Hockey Adam Paker, CEO, Amateur Swimming Mike Reilly, Goalball UK Andrew Scoular, British Judo Sara Sutcliffe, CEO, Table Tennis England Lisa Wainwright, CEO, Volleyball England Jane Allen, CEO, British Gymnastics Jack Buckner, CEO, British Triathlon Adrian Christy, CEO, Badminton England Paul Donovan, CEO, British Waterski and Wakeboard Ian Drake, CEO, British Cycling Martin Glenn, CEO, The Football Tom Harrison, CEO, England and Wales Cricket Board Alison Howard, CEO, Rounders England David Joy, CEO, England Golf David Meli, CEO, England Handball Hamish McInnes, CEO, British Shooting Colin Nicholson, CEO, British Wrestling Andy Parkinson, CEO, British Rowing Ian Ritchie, CEO, Rugby Football Union David Sherratt, CEO, Archery GB Georgina Usher, CEO, British Fencing Kier Worth, CEO, England Squash and Racketball