PlainSailing.com

Grassroots sailing – Support it or lose it

It was welcome news that the RYA today announced that it has joined a national campaign to attempt to lobby the government NOT to make swingeing cuts to sports budgets across the UK.

As part of a joint campaign - which is being led by the ‘Sport and Recreation Alliance’ - the RYA stands alongside the FA, the ECB, and over 300 other national sports bodies in trying to safeguard the sports budgets for the good of, well, everyone.

As you will all know, grassroots sport is all about having fun, learning new skills and making friends – and, of course, making us healthier and happier.  Whilst they are heavily reliant upon volunteers to coach, or train, or transport, or referee, the accessibility of sports is also reliant upon the availability of good quality (and well maintained) community facilities. 

We’ve already lost so much leisure space, and, whilst the National Lottery has filled some of the gap in terms of funding local sports clubs and groups, the budget for sports is under attack – indeed, they budget could be cut by as much as 40% in the next two weeks.

The RYA are urging people to firstly, send a message to Mr Osborne via www.GetYourKitOn.team, as well as to use the hashtag #GetYourKitOn (ideally with pictures of you in your sports kit!).

You can always spot us in & around Brighton with our kit on! #swimbikerun #GetYourKitOn cc @Sport_England pic.twitter.com/eXCuXhJ8Y7

— Brighton Tri Club (@brightontriclub) November 14, 2015

So if you appreciate grassroots sport, please support it!