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23 Feb 2023
UK activity sector rises up to battle for energy support with 200-strong letter to PM
BY
Frances Marcellin
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A letter from a coalition of 200 signatories has been sent to Rishi Sunak asking for energy bills help to prevent closures and service reductions across the industry
photo: Shutterstock / I T S
The government’s energy relief for swimming pools, leisure centres and gyms is scheduled to end on 31 March leaving thousands set for closure or service cuts. In response, more than 200 national sports organisations, fitness and leisure groups and individuals from the health and fitness and sports industries have sent a letter to prime minister Rishi Sunak asking for support. Athlete and celebrity signatories include Rebecca Adlington, Duncan Goodhew MBE, Daley Thompson CBE and Davina McCall. “The breadth of organisations that have joined forces to send such a clear message to the government demonstrates the hugely important role our swimming pools and leisure centres play in supporting the health of the nation and the seriousness of the situation these facilities are facing as a result of hugely increased energy costs,” said Jane Nickerson, chief executive of Swim England.
“It’s vital they get the support they need so they can remain at the heart of local communities, helping people lead healthier and happier lives and reducing pressures on the NHS and social care system.”
Last month the UK government scaled back energy support for businesses through the Energy Bills Discount Scheme, capping it at £5.5bn from 1 April 2023, saying gas prices had fallen and better weather was ahead. The previous programme (known as the Energy Bills Relief Scheme) from 1 Oct 2022-31 March 2023 was £16bn.
The government also failed to classify any facilities in the leisure industry as energy intensive – Energy and Trade Intensive Industry (ETII) status – despite being warned in November 2022 that around 100 swimming pools could close in the following six months if additional support was not granted.
UK Active has confirmed that thousands of facilities and clubs are now at risk of permanent closure or reduced services, as operators of all sizes face unprecedented financial challenges, with bills up to 200 per cent higher than before the crisis.
Data from UK Active’s members shows that 31 per cent of council areas in England remain at risk of losing their leisure centres or seeing reduced services from 1 April. Around 350 facilities have already having seen service restrictions and both temporary and permanent closures since October 2022.
“Failure to identify bespoke support for the sector (and schools operating sports facilities) as part of the Energy Bills Discount Scheme will be the final straw for many facilities and services – especially swimming pools,” reads the letter.
“Without national intervention, communities will see the loss of essential local services, including swimming lessons for children which are vital for water safety; multi-sport offerings; mental health services; bespoke programmes for older citizens, ethnically diverse communities, women and girls, and disabled people; and long-term health programmes, including cancer rehabilitation and support for those with musculoskeletal conditions and type 2 diabetes.”
Within the letter, the coalition calls for the government to:
- • Reclassify swimming pools as energy intensive as part of the Energy Bills Discount Scheme so they have access to the higher level of discount on energy prices.
- • Set out what tangible support it will provide to the wider sector – including gyms, leisure centres, sports facilities, and clubs – to help navigate the energy crisis across 2023.
- • Produce a plan for growth for the sector by aligning the proposed new Sports Strategy with the Spring Budget (which will be publlished on 15 March 2023) to unlock the potential of the sector to support the economic, health, educational and social wellbeing of the nation.
The letter was coordinated by a group of bodies, including: Active Partnerships, the Association for Public Service Excellence, the CIMSPA, CLOA, CLUK, District Councils’ Network, the Local Government Association, Sported, the Sport and Recreation Alliance, the Sport for Development Coalition, Swim England, the Swimming Teachers’ Association, the Youth Sport Trust and UK Active.
“Over two hundred organisations and prominent individuals are united in urging the government to safeguard essential community facilities across the country that remain under threat of service restrictions and closure, impacting people of all ages and backgrounds,” said Huw Edwards, CEO of UK Active.
“Pools, gyms, leisure centres, and community facilities form part of our social fabric, and they are vital for our nation’s health and the economy. Action must be taken to protect our facilities, and to help them recover and grow so they can in turn support the growth of a healthier, happier, more productive nation.”
The plight of pools is being highlighted as part of Big Swim Day on 24 February, with people across the country urged to visit their local swimming facility and show their support by enjoying a swim and urging action in order to help keep pools open.
More than one million children a year learn to swim at community pools in England alone.
This is the full list of signatories:
1Life Management Solutions
Abbeycroft Leisure
Active IQ
Active Nation
Activity Alliance
Alliance Leisure Services
Anytime Clubs UK
Archery GB
Arthritis Action
Association of British Climbing Walls
Atrium Fitness
Aquatic Therapy Association of Chartered Physiotherapists
Badminton England
Barnsley Premier Leisure
Baseball Softball UK
Basketball England
BH Live
Boccia England
British American Football Association
British Association of Sport Rehabilitators and Trainers
British Canoeing
British Cycling
British Dressage
British Equestrian
British Fencing
British Gymnastics
British Ice Skating
British Judo
British Mountaineering Council
British Paralympic Association
British Rowing
British Shooting
British Showjumping
British Swimming Pool Federation
British Taekwondo
British Triathlon
British Water Ski & Wakeboard
British Weightlifting
British Wheelchair Basketball
British Wrestling
Club Kingswood
Code Fitness
Coordinate Sport
David Lloyd Leisure
Durham County Council
Edinburgh Leisure
Edstart Sports Coaching
eGym GmBH
EMD UK
Endurance GB
England and Wales Cricket Board
England Athletics
England Bowls
England Boxing
England Golf
England Handball
England Hockey
England Lacrosse
England Netball
England Squash
English Indoor Bowling Association
Everybody Health & Leisure
Fisikal
Fitness First Clubs
Fitness4Less
Freedom Leisure
FTC Gym
Fusion Lifestyle
GB Boxing
Gladstone
GM Active
Goalball UK
Good Boost
Great Britain Diving Federation
Great Britain Outrigger
Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby
Greenhouse Sports
GLL
Halo Leisure
Hurlingham Polo Association
InBody UK
InspireAll
International Longevity Centre UK
Junior Adventure Group
Karate Union of Great Britain
Keepme
Laban Guild International
Leeds City Council – Sport
Leisure-net Solutions
Lifestyle Fitness
Limbpower
Miha Bodytec
Mosaic Spa & Health Clubs
Move it or Lose it
Move Technologies
Myzone
North Lanarkshire Council
Nuffield Health
Orbit4
Orthopaedic Research UK
Outdoor Industry Association
Parkour UK
Parkwood Leisure
Pentathlon GB
Places Leisure
PureGym
Quartz Sequoia Events
Richmond Group of Charities
Rounders England
Royal Life Saving Society UK
Royal Yachting Association
Rugby Football League
Rugby Football Union
Scottish Leisure Network Group
Sense
Simply Smiles
Skateboard GB
SLM Community Leisure Charity Trust
SLM Health and Fitness
Snowsport England
Snowsport Wales
Sport Aberdeen
Sport for Confidence
Sports Leaders
Squash Wales
Stevenage Leisure
Surfing England
Swim Wales
Swimming Pool and Allied Trades Association
Table Tennis England
The Food Addiction Coach
The Golf Foundation
The Gym Group
Thomas Pocklington Trust
Total Fitness
Trilogy Active
UK Athletics
UK Ultimate
Vivify
Volleyball England
Wales Golf
Wales Netball
Water Babies
Watford FC Community Trust
Welsh Athletics
Welsh Cycling
Welsh Judo
Welsh Sports Association
Welsh Triathlon
Women In Sport
Women’s Sport Collective
Zoom Media
Rebecca Adlington OBE
Chemmy Alcott
Claire Cashmore MBE
Ed Clancy OBE
James Cracknell OBE
Ben Cutmore
Sharron Davies MBE
Laura Deas
Sam Downie
Mark Foster
Chelsie Giles
Luke Greenbank
Duncan Goodhew MBE
Mike Goody
Charlie Guest
Michael Gunning
Alfie Hewett
Anna Hopkin MBE
Adrian Moorhouse MBE
Alfie Hewett
Andy Jameson
Liz Johnson
Matty Lee MBE
Davina McCall
Steve Parry MBE
Keri-Anne Payne
Scarlett Mew Jensen
Jonnie Peacock MBE
Karen Pickering MBE
Scott Quin
Rebecca Redfern
Ellie Robinson MBE
Will Sach MBE
Kate Shortman
Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix
Alice Tai MBE
Leon Taylor
Iwan Thomas
Daley Thompson CBE
Isabelle Thorpe
Dr Mike Tipton MBE
Lloyd Wallace
David Weir CBE
Professor Greg Whyte OBE
Marc Woods
Melanie Woods
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