The RFL has agreed to accept a reduction of £956,188 alongside a renegotiated participation goal, having recognised that it will not achieve the growth in regular and sustained participation commissioned through Sport England’s 2009 – 2013 investment.
The EGP has agreed to a reduction of £107,023, also with a renegotiated participation goal.
Last month the Board of Sport England reduced the funding available to the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the Rugby Football Union for Women (RFUW) by over £1m, after bodies failed to meet participation targets.
Sport England’s chief executive, Jennie Price, said: ‘We welcome the approach of the leadership team at the RFL to the review of funding levels. The governing body has recognised the need to change the approach to grassroots delivery if genuine growth in regular, sustained participation is to be achieved’.
‘The RFL’s bold decision to create a competition framework for the community game based on the summer will deliver both better integration of competition structures and a greater flexibility for those wishing to participate at all levels of the game. Our discussions with the RFL have given us confidence that the very significant investment we are still making in rugby league will deliver value for money’.
In addition to the creation of a summer based competition framework, the RFL plans to build on the successful work it has begun in expanding touch rugby.
Steps are also being taken to mitigate the impact of youth recruitment by professional clubs through a new duel registration between both community and professional clubs.
The EGP has responded to the decline in golf participation by developing a clear plan to grow the game that puts the grassroots players – and potential participants – first.
It has recognised the need to invest more in creating the right kind of opportunities to play golf around the country, and, using market segmentation, will pilot a social golf product initially aimed at younger males over the summer, with the project expanded to other target groups at a later date.
Further investment will also be made in the County Golf Partnership structure, allowing the EGP to deliver a single message for golf, and target those counties where they believe there is the greatest capacity to increase golf participation.
Price added: ‘We welcome the increased priority now being given by the England Golf Partnership to increasing participation among those aged 16 and over. The governing body has done good work in bringing children into the game, and has now committed to bringing the same focus to its work with the adult game’.
Published: 23/06/2011
Source: http://www.sportindustry.biz/news/view/9984/sport-england-cuts-rfl-%26-egp-funds
