An open letter from england hockey and the sport sector to the secretary of state

_Along with a number of governing bodies in the sport sector, England Hockey have added their name to the below letter to the Secretary of State for Education._ Dear Secretary of State,  We

are writing today to seek urgent clarity on the continuation of the investment made through the Primary PE and Sport Premium.  As you will know, this funding has been made available to

primary schools to support their PE and school sport offer since 2013.  The past year has taken an incredible toll on young people’s health and wellbeing. We are sure you will agree that

getting young people active again in school has a hugely important role to play in their recovery. As a sector we have been working together to support and encourage schools to offer daily

physical activity and weekly PE as core building blocks of the recovery curriculum.  However, with just a few weeks left of the summer term, schools have not yet received confirmation that

the PE and Sport Premium will continue into September.  We are becoming increasingly alarmed at the impact this uncertainty is having, at a critical time for schools who are planning their

provision for the next academic year. This comes at a time of huge demand from schools, families and young people.  In recent weeks, the lack of confirmed funding has led to a scaling back

of initiatives and of jobs among the organisations and individuals who support schools to maximise the impact of their PE and Sport Premium. The delay is leading to a reduction in planned

provision and hampering efforts to leverage funding from the private sector to strengthen PE and school sport. We are aware of at least one local authority advising schools to budget on the

assumption that this funding will not continue.  We appreciate the huge number of challenges government is tackling at the moment as we emerge from the pandemic. However, with young people’s

recovery of such paramount importance, it would be devastating if the national effort to support the recovery of young people’s health and wellbeing was hampered by an avoidable delay in

confirming funding for next year.  This national effort to support young people’s recovery would be significantly strengthened by an immediate confirmation from your department that this

funding will continue into the 2021/22 academic year.  Thank you for your support.  Yours sincerely,  Ali Oliver MBE, CEO, Youth Sport Trust  Mark Gannon, CEO, UKCoaching  Huw Edwards, CEO, 

UKActive  Steve Peyman, COO, Chance to Shine  Sarah Mortiboys, CEO, Dallaglio Rugby Works  Arun Kang, CEO, Sporting Equals  Beatrice Butsana-Sita, CEO, Greenhouse Sports  Andy Dalby-Welsh,

CEO, London Youth Games  Richard Norman, CEO, SportsLeadersUK  Vincent Britten & Alan Watkinson, co-Chairs, Schools Active Movement  Tom Harrison, CEO England & Wales Cricket Board 

Mark Bullingham, CEO, The Football Association  Scott Lloyd, CEO, Lawn Tennis Association  Bill Sweeney OBE, CEO, Rugby Football Union  Adrian Christy, CEO, Badminton England  John Boyd,

CEO, BaseballSoftballUK  Stewart Kellett, CEO Basketball England  Georgina Usher, CEO, British Fencing  Alastair Marks, CEO (interim), British Gymnastics  Stephanie Hilborne OBE, CEO, Women

in Sport  Lisa Wainwright, CEO, Sport & Recreation Alliance  Sue Wilkinson MBE, CEO, Association for Physical Education  Lee Mason, CEO, Active Partnerships Network  Andrew Scoular, CEO,

British Judo  Peter Hart, CEO, British Orienteering  Andy Parkinson, CEO, British Rowing  Ashley Metcalf, CEO, British Weightlifting  Lisa Pearce, CEO, British Wheelchair Basketball  Chris

Jones, CEO, England Athletics  NICK PINK, CEO, ENGLAND HOCKEY  Mark Coups, CEO, England Lacrosse  Fran Connolly, CEO, England Netball  Sue Storey, CEO, England Volleyball  Marcus Capel, CEO 

The Pony Club  Natalie Justice-Dearn, CEO, Rounders England  Ralph Rimmer, CEO, Rugby Football League  Jane Nickerson, CEO, Swim England  Sara Sutcliffe, CEO, Table Tennis England  Simon

Hill, CEO, UKUltimate  Brendon Pyle, CEO, Golf Foundation