05 February 2010
Facilities Inquiry Update
The Facilities Inquiry is an independent national inquiry examining issues around the UK’s sports facilities. Chaired by sports broadcaster John Inverdale, with an expert panel drawn from a range of backgrounds, the inquiry asks whether the country has enough sport and leisure facilities, what condition they are in and how easily people can access them.
The inquiry was launched on 10 December 2009 and since then has received over 60 responses to the online questionnaire, 12 detailed written reports from sports and authorities and interest from 6 organisations involved with auditing leisure services that will be providing us with their data. The panel have also held two evidence sessions to date, the first of which focused on community and education facilities, with the second focusing on the natural environment and access to outdoor facilities. Next steps for the panel include undertaking a number of site visits to both indoor and outdoor facilities in London and Derbyshire, and holding an evidence session with under-represented groups in sport. Evidence will continue to be gathered until 31 March 2010, with the panel due to report in April 2010.
What next
The inquiry aims to give a representative account of the health of the UK’s sports facilities and can only truly do this with the contribution of as many people as possible from all over the UK. A dedicated website has been set up for the inquiry which includes more details of the inquiry itself and a background paper providing key facts and figures on the existing facility stock. There is also a section for you to share your views with the panel via a short online questionnaire. The questionnaire should only take 5 minutes of your time to complete and your views are crucial to gaining a true understanding of facilities in the UK. To provide your views please visit the Facilities Inquiry Website, and please pass this website onto others so that they might share their views too.