In England, we find that the national and local provision for sport from most, if not all, perspectives. There are numerous organisations that aid one towards a life of success in sports, whether it is in badminton or basketball (which, by the way, are my two chosen sports for assessment). These organisations and bodies cover every type of person possible, regardless of race, gender, religion or even physical disabilities one may or may not have.
The biggest and most recognised of these such organisations and bodies is Sport England. Sport England advises, invests in and promotes community sport to create an active nation. It does a lot when it comes to encouraging people to get involved with sport and physical activity. They distribute funding and invest in a range of sporting projects, including the Active England fund. According to Sport England, there are two funding streams:
National Investment – Sport England invests in and works with a range of national partners, including national governing sports bodies, prioritising funds on 31 sports, comprising 10 UK priority, 10 English priority and 11 development sports. Community Investment Fund (CIF) – this is the National Lottery funding available through and managed by the regional offices of Sport England. This funding is awarded through an open application process. CIF funding, unlike the national Investment funding, is awarded through an open application process.
There are also registered sports charity organisations, such as the Youth Sport Trust. There ‘mission’ is to increase the participation in PE and sport in school among the young, at all levels, and at any activity, trying to ensure that the youngsters get the best possible coaching so that they can be healthy and be the best they can be in general. They achieve this through educational sporting programmes. These are delivered through schools and are supported by a range of corporate partners, trusts and foundations and government departments. They also have their Specialist Sports Colleges, designated sports-focused schools to enhance young people’s opportunities to participate in a wide range of sports. They also strive to improve the teaching standards concerned with physical education in schools, making sure of progress from grass-root level.
The Youth Sport Trust is responsible for the very useful TOP Programmes, which give participation opportunities to people since the very young age of 18 months old all the way up to 18 and above years old. This is very vital because it ensures all levels of skill and ability to be developed. Grass-roots will definitely be covered here without a doubt. They also have their Continuing Professional Development programme (CPD), also known as National PE and School Sport Professional Development Programme, managed by the Consortium Management Group, which consists of the Youth Sport Trust, Association for PE (AfPE), and Sports Coach UK (SCUK). The aims of this programme are obvious when one reads the name: to enhance and improve the quality of teaching of PE and sport within and beyond the curriculum of schools and centres.
Institute of Sport and Recreation Management (ISRM): ISRM, a registered charity, is the only national professional body for those involved exclusively in providing, managing, operating and developing sport and recreation services in the United Kingdom. The ISRM tries to promote professionalism in the management of sport and recreation services, ensuring that the benefits of sport and physical activity can be delivered effectively through the professional, safe and efficient management and development of sport and recreation facilities and services.
MEDIA AND SPORT:
England has its own department when it comes to sport and media. This body, known as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, funds bodies such as Sport England to promote and invest in grassroots and community sports. They also happen to be the department responsible for the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympics. DCMS also support UK Sport in the hopes of helping the UK towards sporting success at a global level. Though it’s not strictly related to sports, I think it fit to mention the Equality and Human Rights Commission. This commission is working to eliminate all sorts of discrimination in society, whether it’s for gender, race, ethnicity, disability or beliefs. The EHRC is working to bring in and ensure broader and a more diverse number of far participation in society, though no only for sport.
In some countries you may find that women don’t get the necessary facilities when it comes t sports. However, in England, there is just such an organisation called the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation. Their agenda is to increase the health and fitness of women and girls by making physical activity and integral part of their lives, physical activity being defined as ‘sport and exercise’. They work with Sports policy and strategy-makers at national and regional levels.