The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) has welcomed the publication, following an inquiry which set out to understand current school and community sport provision.
The report, Game On: Community and School Sport, features evidence from organisations across the sport and physical activity sector, including funding bodies, sector-wide organisations, national governing bodies, community-based organisations and local sport and physical activity providers.
One consistent thread was present throughout the report – sport and physical activity has proven its ability to reduce illness, improve wellbeing, build social cohesion and ease pressure on the NHS. It calls for a cross-government strategy to better align sport, education, health and local government around the shared objective of increasing physical activity participation in community and school sport.
The publication also identifies a number of challenges that school and community sport provision is presented with, such as investment and funding difficulty despite the substantial economic and social return it delivers, capacity constraints amongst stakeholders, inconsistent delivery, and gaps in workforce quality.
CIMSPA recognises these findings and the important role a skilled and recognised workforce plays in delivering high-quality opportunities for participation.
Natasha Schofield, Director of Education, Skills and Employability at CIMSPA said:
“The committee’s report contains valuable insight, recognising the clear benefits that sport and physical activity participation can bring. Participation begins at school, and continues in the community. Sitting at the heart of this is a trained, high-quality workforce to drive it forward.
“From volunteers taking their first steps, through to experienced professionals, people are what keep provision alive and working. Yet, evidently the lack of recognition is felt across the workforce, particularly selfless volunteers. Creating structured and accessible progression routes, with professional status embedded in, is essential to building a sustainable and inclusive workforce that is recognised for the impact that they have.
“The recommendation for a more streamlined system of administration, including the potential for a central workforce register, reflects the need for greater consistency, transparency and trust across the sector. CIMSPA is committed to working with partners to support approaches that strengthen workforce recognition and simplify the landscape for employers and professionals alike.
“As a sector, we’re already ahead of the game when it comes to place-based working. Our workforce development managers have been working in local communities for a number of years. They have been identifying skills gaps in the sector, and where we can collaborate across education provision, employers and local organisations. We will continue to work collaboratively to support the development of a workforce that is equipped to meet these challenges, work in a cross-sector system and deliver positive outcomes for individuals and communities.”