GMA Welcomes £400m Government Boost For Grassroots Sport
The Grounds Management Association (GMA) has welcomed the UK Government’s announcement of at least £400m for new and upgraded grassroots sports facilities across the country.
This significant funding package recognises the vital role that high-quality sports infrastructure plays in supporting participation in communities across the country. It also reflects the collective efforts of the wider sporting sector, including the often-unsung work of grounds management professionals and volunteers.
As the leading not-for-profit membership organisation for the grounds care sector, the GMA is at the forefront of improving the quality and safety of playing surfaces across the UK.
Since the launch of the Pitch Advisory Service in 2014, the GMA has carried out over 50,000 pitch inspections in England, working alongside National Governing Bodies (NGBs) as well as local authorities and volunteers to raise standards and improve playing surfaces.
The Pitch Advisory Service now extends across Wales, providing practical guidance and development that helps clubs and communities get the most from their facilities.
Geoff Webb, Chief Executive Officer at the GMA, said: “We welcome the government investment as a real boost for grassroots sport.
“Over the past decade, the Pitch Advisory Service – working hand in hand with national governing bodies and local volunteers – has helped transform the quality of many community pitches across the UK.
“This funding allows us to continue that vital work, ensuring clubs and communities benefit from well-maintained facilities that inspire more people to play and stay in sport.”
The GMA’s impact is amplified through its long-standing partnerships with NGBs of sport, including The FA, Rugby Football Union, England and Wales Cricket Board, Rugby Football League and many others.
These collaborations are central to the delivery of national sport development strategies, ensuring that grounds management is embedded in every effort to grow participation and improve player experience.
A key example of this is the recently launched Premier League Pitch Standards Framework – a resource developed in partnership to help Premier League clubs assess and improve the quality of their playing surfaces, ensuring consistency, safety of players and longer-term sustainability.
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, said: “Sport tells our national story in a way few other things can – uniting communities, inspiring millions, and showcasing our nation on the global stage.
“This major backing for world-class events will drive economic growth across the country, delivering on our Plan for Change.
“Coupled with strong investment into grassroots sport, we’re creating a complete pathway to allow the next generation of sporting heroes to train and take part in sport in communities across the UK.”
Image: GMA
