Bowls England is backing a new campaign designed to promote support for grassroots sport ahead of the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review on 25 November.
The #GetYourKitOn campaign, supported by sports organisations across the country,is encouraging as many people as possible to tell George Osborne how much they value grassroots sport before he decides whether to cut up to 40% of grassroot sport’s taxpayer funding.
You can spread the word of your support for the campaign by sharing photos of you in your sports kit with the hashtag #GetYourKitOn.
Emma Boggis, Chief Executive of the Sport and Recreation Alliance, the umbrella body for sports organisations, says the campaign needs as many supporters as possible if it is to succeed.
“We understand difficult decisions have to be made but cuts of this size would have serious repercussions for grassroots sport. So we are calling for everyone who plays or who has children who play grassroots sport to spend 60 seconds contacting the Chancellor to tell them how much they value our grassroots sport.”
As part of the campaign, supporters are being asked to visit www.GetYourKitOn.team and post a message directly to the inbox of George Osborne, asking him to protect funding for grassroots sport.
Emma Boggis said, “The #GetYourKitOn campaign is a fantastic way to show the strength of feeling and passion that keeps grassroots sport functioning in the country, but we need you to act quickly. These decisions are already being made and unless we tell George Osborne that we are united in our support for our community clubs and sports, sport stands to lose out.”
Tony Allcock MBE, Chief Executive of Bowls England on backing the campaign said, “We’ve got a small amount of time to convince the Chancellor that we value grassroots sport and to protect it from the worst of the cuts.
“A cut of 40% to Exchequer funding would have a huge impact on the ability of sport to deliver the benefits it offers to communities. Making cuts to grassroots sport funding will not only impact upon the health and happiness of people within their communities, which has a direct positive impact on the health budget but it will also have impacts on economic growth and the development of our young people.”
“We’d encourage all our members and those who pour their heart and soul into grassroots sport to get their kit on, act now and back this campaign and show George Osborne the true value of grassroots sport.”
For more information visit www.GetYourKitOn.Team or Bowls England.