Government announces £30 million for school sport

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport yesterday (3 October 2021) announced an additional £30 million per year of funding to improve and up school sport facilities in England as well as improving the teaching of Physical Education at primary school.

Yesterday’s announcement stated that this would build on existing investment and that further details around the delivery of the funding would be confirmed in due course.

Responding to the announcement, Youth Sport Trust CEO Ali Oliver MBE, said:

“We are pleased that Government has recognised the importance of investing in PE and school sport. This additional funding to further open up school sport facilities and invest in the teaching of PE in primary schools will go some way to helping more children benefit from the important contribution sport and PE should make to their education and development. This could not be more important as we help a generation of children recover from the impact of the pandemic.

“The Youth Sport Trust, along with leading organisations across sport and education, will be keen to work with government to make sure this funding has the biggest positive impact. Investment in facilities will need to be part of a joined-up approach which promotes the importance of PE while also investing in clubs and coaches.

"We are calling for the Spending Review later this month to commit to a long-term investment in PE and school sport which elevates the School Sport & Activity Action Plan into an ambitious, joined-up national strategy to improve wellbeing and get every child active for 60 minutes every day."

Published on 4 October 2021