Grassroots sports calls for extra assist to avoid an own goal in North East
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New research from leading charity Sported has found that 97 per cent of clubs and groups surveyed in the North East believe there isn’t enough investment into grassroots sport to back its impact at a community level.
And it comes as nearly two-thirds of those surveyed (61%) confirm that young people in their group have disengaged from, or reduced participation in, sport and physical activity over the past six months because they can no longer afford it.
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Hide AdThe study, conducted in conjunction with home security company Ring, discovered travel was cited as a major factor with 48% citing it as a barrier to taking part. While just over half (52%) also stated reduced confidence of young people in taking part had caused them to reduce or disengage from participating.

Affordability for those renting facilities (40%) and availability of facilities (40%), maintenance and upkeep (60%) and running costs (60%) for those owning their own facilities were also reported as significant challenges by respondent groups.
When asked what they would raise with their respective nation’s Sports Minister, five key themes emerged in the Sported/Ring research:
- Increasing funding for grassroots and community sport
- creating a more equitable funding model with more focus on community groups and their needs (as well as a wider variety of activities and sports)
- the affordability and accessibility of venues and facilities
- Government’s awareness of the benefits of community sport and physical activity on all aspects of young people’s lives
- expanding opportunities for participation across communities.
“Grassroots sport is an extraordinary tool for change in communities across the North East and its impact should not be underestimated,” said Sarah Kaye, CEO of Sported.
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Hide Ad“The region is home to a number of sporting greats like Richard Kilty or Alan Shearer and professional teams. However groups and clubs do not always get the recognition they deserve from government in creating real opportunities for our young people. All of them are addressing the challenge of cultivating a healthier society, but they are also incredibly effective in addressing challenges such as community cohesion, inclusion, crime prevention and employability.
“By empowering grassroots sport in 2025 and investing into the ecosystem around it, there is a real return through sowing the seeds for a level playing field for our next generation, on and off the court or pitch.”
The research from Sported, who support around 5,000 grassroots groups reaching one million young people around the UK, highlights an increased recognition of the role that these organisations play in delivering social impact.
97% of grassroots sports clubs surveyed in the North East of England said they get inactive young people active, as well as improving mental health, confidence and self-esteem amongst young people. Further benefits of taking part in physical activity for young people were revealed by the groups as including increased sense of belonging, and reduced stress and anxiety.
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Hide Ad“I think taking part in sporting activities with others helps people to develop in many ways,” said Ruth Ashford of Newcastle-based Welcome to Badminton.
“Appreciation of team work and skills to develop this; positive impact on mental health through concentration and focus needed to play and improve; the wider experience of losing and winning, thinking strategically and tactically helps in other situations in life; the opportunity to socialize and make new friends in a relaxed environment; he opportunity to learn from others with more experience and skills, encouraging cooperation; opportunity to be more independent and self-motivating and develop skills and talents in their own way; opportunity to destress and escape from worry and anxiety.”