The Committee for Education, Sport & Culture will be submitting an amendment to the recently released Government Work Plan policy letter seeking to increase the level of funding for the Active 8 Sport Strategy.
The Committee will propose the funding for Active 8 should be £300,000 per year, for the next seven years, with the Guernsey Sports Commission and the Health Improvement Commission being recipients of the funding, with a small amount retained by the Committee to oversee the governance of the Strategy.
The Committee and the Commissions both acknowledge the financial circumstances of the States of Guernsey, but are convinced that investing in the Strategy, the objective of which is to inspire and encourage all forms of activity to improve the physical and mental health, and general wellbeing of islanders, represents excellent value for money for the community.
Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen, President of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture, said:
"Earlier this summer, we made it clear that we were still negotiating with the Guernsey Sports Commission and other teams working as part of the Active 8 strategy. Those discussions have now concluded, and we are content that we have reached a position that delivers best value for money for the community and manages costs in line with the direction of the States, but also ensures the strategy is properly funded. We understand why the Policy & Resources Committee felt unable to accede to our request to increase the level of funding for Active 8 in the current financial climate, but we know this investment will save money in the long run.
"Physical activity is incredibly important for the whole community, and this investment reaches far wider than simply facilitating sports clubs and tournaments. People who are regularly active, whether that is walking around our beautiful island, cycling to work, or being involved in sport, are generally healthier and we know that being physically active is good for our mental health and wellbeing.
"On behalf of the Committee, I would like to thank all those involved for working with us during these negotiations, and for doing so in good faith, recognising that all Committees are currently looking to tighten their belts.
"I hope we will see broad support from the Assembly for this amendment, as while we are conscious of the financial position the States of Guernsey is in, we also feel a small additional investment in this area will go a long way towards embedding and building upon the good work that has already taken place under the umbrella of the Strategy. We are confident of a good return on this investment."
Active 8: A Plan for Sport, is a 10-year plan approved by the States of Guernsey in 2020. The States at that time approved funding for only the first three years of the Plan. The Committee hopes to secure funding for the remaining seven years, so that the ambitions of the Plan can be realised.
The Committee has reassured the Policy & Resources Committee that prior to any funding being 'drawn down', full details of how the funds will be used and how their impact will be assessed will be provided.
