In principle, sporta is strongly supportive of a bold initiative to produce additional public funding for a major development of public wellness centres. A broad consensus with all interested parties will help build the strong and expert case for the necessary government support and the sound arrangements for managing the proposed programme.
Delivering the vision ultimately depends on the provision of services, not just construction and co-location of facilities. Trusts and other not for profit/public benefit bodies, working with local authorities, will be the best operators of the facilities. These organisations have a community mission that’s well suited to these requirements, as well as the necessary capabilities and skills – including the ability to draw in volunteers.
Established ways of providing the individual services within an integrated wellness offering may need to change. The design and delivery of the leisure element may also need to be different, in particular to ensure it’s appropriate for populations that remain difficult to attract into physical activity.
Reaching out to the physically inactive groups in society will be costly and will need to be recognised in the local business model. There will need to be community outreach work, as well as partnerships with local charities and social agencies.
Getting the additional public funding and support essential to achieve the vision will clearly be a huge challenge. The approach being taken by ukactive and Sport England – to link with industrial infrastructure programmes and draw in commercial ‘social mission’ funding – is potentially the only way to enable a co-ordinated programme which provides scale and pace.
However, the broader social regeneration and inclusive growth case for a broad range of government funding and support for local public sport, leisure and cultural services should still be kept on the table. There may be new opportunities to argue this case when Brexit is implemented and the framework set by EU fund comes to an end.