CSP Network has today welcomed the new Sport England strategy 'Towards An Active Nation' which, alongside the Government Sporting Future strategy released in December, signals a significant change of approach for grassroots sport and physical activity across the country.
The strategy indicates continued support for the work of County Sports Partnerships, whilst their specific role in helping to deliver both strategies will be confirmed following the outcome of the Government CSP Appraisal process currently being undertaken by Andy Reed, which is due to report next month.
CSP Network Chief Executive Lee Mason commented;
“This Sport England strategy begins to set out how we will deliver the Government strategy and reaffirms the new areas of focus. We welcome the focus on the social value sport and physical activity delivers, the broader definition of activity, the increased focus on children & young people, and the value of volunteers.
We also support the drive for a bottom up or ‘place based’ approach to planning and delivering sporting opportunities to meet changing customer demands, which will provide significant challenges and opportunities for the sector, and which CSPs are well placed to support.
Over recent months we have been considering how the next generation CSPs need to evolve to ensure we are fit for the future. During the summer we will bring this together with the requirements of these strategies and the outcomes of the appraisal of CSPs, and will agree with Sport England and Government a refreshed core purpose and framework for CSPs for the future.
We look forward to working with Sport England and all our partners to support the implementation of this strategy”.
