Sports bodies call on First Minister to deliver long promised Government funding boost in upcoming Budget as cash crisis leaves them “running on empty”

SPORTING bodies across Scotland have written to the First Minister urging him to use the upcoming Scottish Budget to deliver on the Scottish Government’s pledge to double annual sports funding.

  • Sports bodies in Scotland say they are “running on empty” thanks to years of funding cuts and are calling on the First Minister to use the upcoming Budget to honour the Government’s 2021 commitment to double annual sports funding to £100m per year
  • The bodies say as the global sporting spotlight falls on Scotland, the impact of a real terms’ funding reduction of nearly 25% since the 2021 commitment has left them cutting costs, reducing programmes and in some cases losing staff
  • Sport’s crucial role at the heart of important health prevention and community cohesion schemes is becoming more vulnerable as bodies struggle to balance the books and say as a result, sports are at risk of becoming less inclusive
  • Significant numbers of athletes competing on the world stage are having to self-fund for national and international competitions.

Many say that a real terms funding cut over last four years means they are now “running on empty” at a time when the global sporting spotlight falls on Scotland with this week’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup and hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the Tour de France Grand Depart in Edinburgh in 2027 and Euro 2028.

In its 2021 Programme for Government, the Scottish Government pledged to double annual sports funding to £100m from the current level of £50m per year but as the current Parliament enters its last few months, that target remains unmet.

The Scottish Governing Body for Sport Forum (SGB), which represents senior leaders in sports across Scotland, is warning John Swinney that a perfect storm of rising costs, increased demand and reduced real terms funding threatens the ability of many to continue to operate properly and reduces their ability to support vital community programmes.

Post-Covid budget challenges and pressures elsewhere have been cited as why the funding uplift never materialised however last year, the Government found over £30m for arts and culture after they cited similar challenges to sport and more money has been pledged for that sector this year.

Now, as the Scottish Government prepares its final Budget before the next election, the governing bodies have urged the First Minister and Finance Secretary to deliver the promised funding boost to avoid the crisis worsening.

In the letter to John Swinney and Shona Robison, they want assurances “that investment in sport remains a priority, as it was in 2021 and as you prepare for the final Budget before this Parliament comes to an end, this commitment remains”.

Governing bodies struggling in face of ongoing funding worries

Doc McKelvey, chief executive of Scottish Gymnastics and chair of SGB Forum said: “Overall funding of sport from the Government is just under £50m per year and the amount of that to governing bodies is considerably less. That is a real terms cut over the last four years when inflation is considered.

“To be clear, this is funding to allow governing bodies to operate at even the most basic level. We’ve had to mend and make do over the last few years but for many, we are now running on empty.”

While the impact that the lack of funding has on facilities has been publicised, much of the work of SGBs goes on in the background which means the impact can be less visible publicly.

A survey of 30 Scottish sports organisations conducted by consultancy 56° North, found almost all have had to cut costs, reduce programmes and in some cases lose staff just to be able to keep going. The bodies also said the real terms cuts means sport is becoming less inclusive and less able to help achieve desired health and social cohesion outcomes.

The survey also found that most organisations have had to increase membership fees, cut back on community programmes, take smaller squads to competitions and were unable to fund significant numbers of athletes competing on the world stage who often have to pay for events out of their own pockets.

In addition,

  • 88% of SGBs are concerned about their capabilities/future if no additional budget is provided.
  • 48% are concerned about their reduced capacity to attend/host events.
  • 24% are concerned about grassroots involvement
  • 25% are concerned about inclusion of women/girls
  • 32% are concerned about shortage of officials/staff/trainers due to salary/budget constraints

The total payroll costs of those SGBs with the greatest reliance on public funding has grown by over £7m in the past four years. Over the same period, sportScotland has only been able to support an increased investment of £1.4m due to funding constraints.

The SGBs say they have had positive discussions with Government ministers but are calling for urgent action and in addition will be asking all political parties contesting next year’s Holyrood elections, to commit to matching and fulfilling the pledge as well as supporting a more sustainable long term funding approach.

Nick Rennie, chief executive of Scottish Cycling said: “This crisis affects all bodies, big and small. We are operating under unsustainable financial pressures, which are having a significant impact on the decisions we make and will continue to have to make if we do not receive additional financial support.

“The Scottish Government has been sympathetic to our position, and we understand the challenges they have faced and are facing, but the truth is, we’re running on empty.”

Wider benefits from sport at risk as funding falls

The most recent Scottish Household Survey results from 2023 showed that 37% of adults and 38% of children do not meet the recommended physical activity levels. This represents a worsening position from prior years.

The programme budgets that have been cut are often those that have been used to address issues of inequality, to develop targeted and specific initiatives for underrepresented groups, as well as to help maintain support for athletes representing their country, rather than passing further cost increases on to them. By way of an example, an international training camp and competition for a group of Scottish athletes is estimated to have increased in cost by circa 25 – 35% over the past five years.

Judith McCleary, Chief Executive of JudoScotland said: “Many SGBs are finding it increasingly challenging to retain good people with staff turnover at every level continuing to grow. By way of an example, 28% of governing bodies have had to recruit a new CEO in the last 12 months, with leaders sourcing other more attractive opportunities, within or outwith the sport sector.”

Governing bodies say they have taken mitigating actions by increasing membership fees, reducing programme budgets, and exploring alternative funding streams but that all options have now been exhausted and if investment is not forthcoming, then the consequences will mean further programme cuts, membership fee increases and potentially more redundancies.

Derek Keir, Chief Executive of Scottish Hockey said “Like many sports bodies ‘running on empty’ is an accurate description due to years of real-terms funding reductions, Scottish Hockey is also operating under extremely challenging financial pressures which are having a significant impact on the decisions we are having to make despite multiple efforts to mitigate costs and raise funds. The recent strategy consultation will guide our decision-making to better align with the needs of our members; however, the cost of participation at both local and national levels continues to rise, placing increasing pressure on accessibility and engagement”

 

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