CURRENT CAMPAIGNS > CAARE for SPORT
"Physical inactivity currently costs the nation at least £2bn a year (or 54,000 lives lost prematurely)."
The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Tony Blair
‘Game Plan: a strategy for delivering Government's sport and physical activity objectives.’
CAARE for SPORT is our campaign to promote the benefits of sport and healthy living for all. The campaign is aimed at improving funding for sport at all levels, and to increase participation in sport at grassroots level, particularly amongst young people.
Britain has one of the lowest figures for sports expenditure per capita of any country in Europe. Despite this, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) have had their funding frozen until 2008, which in real terms means a cut in funding of £114.9m over 2 years! At the same time, the Government are promoting the National Lottery Bill in Parliament, which will take 50% of all Lottery funds away from areas such as sport, and instead use them to plug holes in Government spending areas. They cannot be allowed to get away with treating sport this way. Support CAARE for Sport, and help make a difference.
CAARE for Sport has lobbied consistently and effectively for improvements in sports funding in Britain. In letters to The Times in 2001 and 2004, leading British sporting heroes declared their backing for CAARE, including:
Paula Radcliffe, Jonathan Edwards, Jason Leonard, Colin Jackson, James Cracknell, David Moyes, Steve Backley, Roger Black, Sharron Davies and David Seaman.
- ▫ Times Sportsmen's letter 16th Oct 2001
- ▫ Times Sportsmen's letter 23rd Oct 2001
- ▫ Times Sportsmen's letter 22nd Mar 2004
- ▫Campaign vigorously for increased funding for sport and physical activity, both from Government and from the Lottery
- ▫Raise public and media awareness of the important issues relating to sport.
- ▫Promote the ability of sport to aid mental, emotional and physical development.
- ▫Act as a representative of sports organisations in the promotion of sporting activities and provide them with a forum for discussion.
- ▫Provide schools, local communities and other groups with assistance in the creation of schemes promoting sport and providing sporting activities.
- ▫Monitor Government promises relating to sport and the use of Lottery funds
Denis Vaughan was described by the late Lord Denis Howell, in a meeting with the CCPR, as “The man who brought more money to sport than anyone else in the 20th century.”
We are constantly involved in briefing Parliament and the media about funding for sport. We gave advice to the recent Independent Sports Review, chaired by Lord Moynihan (now Chairman of the British Olympic Association) and Kate Hoey MP (former Sports Minister).
We have submitted evidence and briefings to many Parliamentary Committees, the most recent being as part of CAARE'S briefing to the Standing Committee on the National Lottery Bill. Our briefing calls for sport's share of Lottery funding to be raised to 33%.
If wish to offer support or assistance to CAARE for SPORT, or would like to see CAARE fighting your corner, then please do not hesitate to contact us.