CIMSPA responds to the Government’s latest announcement of local authority funding allocation

CIMSPA CEO, Tara Dillon, welcomes today’s government announcement that £100m will be allocated to support local authority gyms and leisure centres, but warns that further funding is likely to be needed.

• The government today announced £100m worth of funding for local authorities and leisure centres.
• Tara Dillon welcomes government announcement of financial support but warns further funding will be needed.

The £100m is part of the government’s wider £1bn package of support for local authorities, and follows a cross-sector campaign to highlight the importance of sport and leisure to the nation’s health and economy.

Tara Dillon said:

“This is a very welcome start and will help to support local leisure facilities and jobs in the short term.

“However, with no immediate end to lockdown restrictions in sight, we believe that further financial support will be needed to protect the longer term future of leisure facilities and the many thousands of people they employ. Leisure is an essential service, supporting the nation’s physical and mental health, bringing communities together and saving the NHS £9.5bn every year.”

Details of how the £100m will be allocated are expected to follow shortly and CIMSPA will work closely with Sport England, DCMS and our sector partners to ensure it quickly gets to the areas of most need.