SPORTING organizations 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 organizations in Scotland say they are “left empty-handed” thanks to years of austerity and are calling on the First Minister to use the upcoming Budget to deliver on the Government’s 2021 pledge to double annual sports funding to £100 million a year
- The bodies say that while the global sporting spotlight is on Scotland, the impact of a real funding cut of almost 25% since the 2021 commitment has seen them cut costs, scale back programs and in some cases lose staff.
- Sport’s crucial role at the heart of key health prevention and community cohesion programs is becoming more vulnerable as agencies struggle to take stock and as a result say sport is at risk of becoming less inclusive
- A significant number of athletes competing on the world stage must self-finance their national and international competitions.
Many say a cut in real funding over the past four years means they are now “left empty-handed” at a time when the global sporting spotlight is falling on Scotland with this week’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup and hosting of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the Tour de France Grand Depart in Edinburgh in 2027 and Euro 2028.
In its 2021 program for government, the Scottish Government pledged to double annual sports funding from the current level of £50 million to £100 million, but as the current parliament enters its final months that target remains unfulfilled.
The Scottish Governing Body for Sport Forum (SGB), which represents senior leaders in sport across Scotland, John Swinney is warning that a perfect storm of rising costs, increased demand and reduced real funding is threatening the ability of many to continue to function properly and reducing their ability to support vital community programmes.
Post-Covid budget challenges and pressures elsewhere are cited as a reason why last year’s funding increase never happened. However, the Government found more than £30 million for arts and culture after citing similar challenges for sport, and more money has been pledged for that sector this year.
As the Scottish Government prepares its final budget before the next election, the governing bodies have urged the First Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer to deliver the promised financial boost to prevent the crisis from worsening.
In the letter to John Swinney and Shona Robison, they want assurances “that investment in sport remains a priority, as it has in 2021, and as you prepare for the final Budget before this Parliament comes to an end, this commitment remains”.
Governing bodies are struggling with persistent financing problems
Doc McKelvey, Managing Director of Scottish Gymnastics and Chairman of the SGB Forum said: “The government’s total funding for sport is just under £50 million a year and the amount of that given to governing bodies is considerably less. That’s a real cut over the last four years when we take inflation into account.
“To be clear, this is funding to enable governing bodies to operate at even the most basic level. We have had to recover and make do over the last few years, but for many we are now running on empty.”
While the impact the lack of funding has on facilities has been publicized, much of the SGBs’ work continues in the background, meaning the impact may be less visible to the public.
A survey of 30 Scottish sports organisations, carried out by consultancy 56° North, found that almost all organizations had to make cuts, scale back their programs and in some cases lose staff in order to continue operating. The bodies also said the real cuts mean sport will become less inclusive and less able to help achieve desired outcomes in health and social cohesion.
The survey also found that most organizations had to increase membership fees, cut back on community programs, take smaller teams to competitions and were unable to fund significant numbers of athletes competing on the world stage who often have to pay for the 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/organize events.
- 24% are concerned about grassroots involvement
- 25% are concerned about the inclusion of women/girls
- 32% are concerned about a shortage of officers/staff/trainers due to salary/budget constraints
The total wage costs of the SGBs most reliant on public funding have increased by more than £7 million over the past four years. In the same period, sportScotland has only been able to support an increased investment of £1.4 million due to funding constraints.
The SGBs say they have had positive discussions with government ministers, but are calling for urgent action and will further ask all political parties contesting next year’s Holyrood elections to commit to matching and delivering on the pledge and supporting a more sustainable financing approach in the long term.
Nick Rennie, CEO of Scottish Cycling said: “This crisis affects all agencies, large and small. We are operating under unsustainable financial pressure, which is having a significant impact on the decisions we make and will continue 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 continue to face, but the truth is we are left empty-handed.”
Wider benefits of sport are at risk if funding falls
The latest results from the 2023 Scottish Household Survey show that 37% of adults and 38% of children are not meeting recommended levels of physical activity. This represents a deteriorating position compared to previous years.
The program budgets that have been cut have often been used to address issues of inequality, to develop targeted and specific initiatives for underrepresented groups, and to maintain support for athletes representing their countries, rather than passing on further cost increases to them. By way of example, the cost of an international training camp and competition for a group of Scottish athletes is estimated to have increased by around 25 to 35% over the past five years.
Judith McCleary, CEO of JudoScotland said: “Many SGBs are finding it increasingly difficult to retain good people, while staff turnover continues to grow at all levels. For example, 28% of boards have had to hire a new CEO in the last twelve months, as leaders have sought other, more attractive opportunities, within or outside the sports sector.”
Governing bodies say they have taken mitigation measures by increasing membership fees, reducing program budgets and exploring alternative funding streams, but that all options have now been exhausted and if no investment is made, the consequences will mean further program cuts, increases in membership fees and possibly more redundancies.
That’s according to Derek Keir, CEO of Scottish Hockey “Like many sporting organizations that are ‘left empty-handed’ is an accurate description due to years of funding cuts, Scottish Hockey is also operating under extremely challenging financial pressures which are having a significant impact on the decisions we have to make, despite multiple efforts to contain costs and raise funds. The recent strategy consultation will guide our decision-making to better meet the needs of our members; however, the cost of participation at both local and national level continues to rise, putting increasing pressure on accessibility and engagement.”
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