ESC Wants £300k A Year For Active 8 Sport

Education, Sport and Culture is asking for extra funding for sport, saying its 'confident' of a good return on the additional investment.

The Active 8 Sport Strategy aims to encourage activity to improve physical and mental health.

ESC is asking for £300k per year for the next seven years - or a total of £2.1million.

The committee is bringing an amendment to P&R's Government Work Plan policy letter which is due to be debated in October.

It comes at a time when departments are being urged to curb spending, and politicians are due to decide which capital projects should be scrapped or scaled back.

ESC says the extra £300k will be split between the Guernsey Sports Commission and Health Commission, with a small amount being kept by ESC to oversee the governance of the strategy.

President of the Committee Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen says it would be excellent value for money.

"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. They have difficult decisions to make, 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."

The 10-year plan was passed by the States in 2020 but funding was only approved for the first three years.