Government Set To Review Sport England Goals

Sport England, the subsidiary body that distributes lottery funding for sport,
is reportedly set for a major overhaul of its organisation amid moves from the
government to restructure the body’s goals.

Following meetings with Sport England chairman Derek Mapp, new Culture
Secretary James Purnell and Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe are thought to be on
the cusp of launching a review of the organisation.

When Mapp became chairman just over twelve months ago he promised to increase
participation in sport by 2m people by the time the London 2012 Olympics came
around.

However reports suggest that Purnell and Sutcliffe are of the opinion that
Sport England should take responsibility for far more than a sole focus on sport
participation levels.

Such an initiative is believed to stem from a desire to improve relationships
between Sport England and the various national sports federations, some of which
have voiced their lack of support for Sport England’s approach.

One such row has recently arisen with the Football Foundation which has
demanded that it receives £15m of public funding directly through the Treasury
instead of via Sport England.

Sport England, which currently distributes over £260m a year to grass-roots
sports programmes, was the subject of an internal review just five years ago
which led to an axing of half its workforce.