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Sir Keith Mills offers key research that grassroots sport funding pays Sir Keith Mills offers key research that grassroots sport funding pays
(4 months later)
Sir Keith Mills, the deputy chairman of the London 2012 organising committee, has unveiled the results of a three-year research project that he says proves billions could be saved by the Treasury if more money was invested in grassroots sport projects.Sir Keith Mills, the deputy chairman of the London 2012 organising committee, has unveiled the results of a three-year research project that he says proves billions could be saved by the Treasury if more money was invested in grassroots sport projects.
The Air Miles founder said that the "groundbreaking" research gave a clear sense of the financial return from the sector for the first time and should form the basis of a concerted push for more investment from government and corporate backers.The Air Miles founder said that the "groundbreaking" research gave a clear sense of the financial return from the sector for the first time and should form the basis of a concerted push for more investment from government and corporate backers.
The Guardian revealed earlier this year that sport and leisure investment was being disproportionately cut by local authorities as their budgets came under extreme pressure, while corporate backers are re-evaluating their investment in sport following the Games.The Guardian revealed earlier this year that sport and leisure investment was being disproportionately cut by local authorities as their budgets came under extreme pressure, while corporate backers are re-evaluating their investment in sport following the Games.
Along with Lord Coe, Mills was the architect of London's bid to host the Olympics and its promise to "inspire a generation" to play more sport.Along with Lord Coe, Mills was the architect of London's bid to host the Olympics and its promise to "inspire a generation" to play more sport.
But he admitted that cash-strapped local "doorstep sport" projects, from inner city boxing gyms to initiatives to deliver fitness programmes in local parks, were rarely able to prove their effectiveness because they were concentrating on delivery.But he admitted that cash-strapped local "doorstep sport" projects, from inner city boxing gyms to initiatives to deliver fitness programmes in local parks, were rarely able to prove their effectiveness because they were concentrating on delivery.
The research, conducted by a company called Substance, used government statistics to determine that £4,174 per young person per year could be saved by using sport as an "intervention" to tackle social problems.The research, conducted by a company called Substance, used government statistics to determine that £4,174 per young person per year could be saved by using sport as an "intervention" to tackle social problems.
Using the records of 650,000 participants in previous projects, the company's research showed sport projects had the greatest impact on alcohol and drugs misuse, reducing the risk by 19%.Using the records of 650,000 participants in previous projects, the company's research showed sport projects had the greatest impact on alcohol and drugs misuse, reducing the risk by 19%.
The likelihood of young people taking part in crime and anti-social behaviour was reduced by 15% and there was a 14% improvement in their health and well-being, said Dr Tim Crabbe, the chairman of Substance.The likelihood of young people taking part in crime and anti-social behaviour was reduced by 15% and there was a 14% improvement in their health and well-being, said Dr Tim Crabbe, the chairman of Substance.
Mills launched Sported as an umbrella organisation five years ago, promising to invest more than £2m of his own money and that of other investors in supporting thousands of local grassroots sport clubs that make a difference to social outcomes.Mills launched Sported as an umbrella organisation five years ago, promising to invest more than £2m of his own money and that of other investors in supporting thousands of local grassroots sport clubs that make a difference to social outcomes.
"We wanted to be able to say to funders that if they invest money in the projects we oversee, you'll get a return on your investment. We want to say the same thing to government departments, national and local. And other charities, such as Comic Relief," said Mills."We wanted to be able to say to funders that if they invest money in the projects we oversee, you'll get a return on your investment. We want to say the same thing to government departments, national and local. And other charities, such as Comic Relief," said Mills.
"Unless this sector has a very strong financial argument that says society will get a return, then the rate at which it is losing funding will accelerate," he said of the rationale behind the research."Unless this sector has a very strong financial argument that says society will get a return, then the rate at which it is losing funding will accelerate," he said of the rationale behind the research.
The government has insisted it remains committed to delivering a sports legacy from the London Olympics, but critics have claimed that confusion over its school sport policy and the cuts to local authority budgets will negate any benefit from the £1bn to be invested over five years through Sport England.The government has insisted it remains committed to delivering a sports legacy from the London Olympics, but critics have claimed that confusion over its school sport policy and the cuts to local authority budgets will negate any benefit from the £1bn to be invested over five years through Sport England.
"What we wanted from this research was evidence that sport for development had an impact on social issues which would, in turn, enable us to create a robust case for investment in this sector," said Mills."What we wanted from this research was evidence that sport for development had an impact on social issues which would, in turn, enable us to create a robust case for investment in this sector," said Mills.
"Sport for development work has been in the shadows for too long, it lacks funding and support and yet it's providing a crucial service in some of the country's most challenged communities.""Sport for development work has been in the shadows for too long, it lacks funding and support and yet it's providing a crucial service in some of the country's most challenged communities."
He hopes to persuade other corporate backers to join Deutsche Bank in investing in projects and sports clubs supported by Sported. Traditionally, corporate programmes had tended to invest in the arts and charity rather than sport.He hopes to persuade other corporate backers to join Deutsche Bank in investing in projects and sports clubs supported by Sported. Traditionally, corporate programmes had tended to invest in the arts and charity rather than sport.
"As a businessman, I was determined to make sure we got a return on investment," said Mills, who is also a Tottenham Hotspur director. "When we looked at how much evidence there was, there were lots of project reports and anecdotal evidence, but there was no single piece of evidence that could tell me as an investor how my money was being used.""As a businessman, I was determined to make sure we got a return on investment," said Mills, who is also a Tottenham Hotspur director. "When we looked at how much evidence there was, there were lots of project reports and anecdotal evidence, but there was no single piece of evidence that could tell me as an investor how my money was being used."
The research has also given rise to a piece of software that will allow individual projects to evaluate the impact of their work.The research has also given rise to a piece of software that will allow individual projects to evaluate the impact of their work.
"There are shaming statistics in this country about Neets [Not in Education, Employment or Training], said Sir Richard Lambert, a senior independent adviser to Deutsche Bank."There are shaming statistics in this country about Neets [Not in Education, Employment or Training], said Sir Richard Lambert, a senior independent adviser to Deutsche Bank.
"We have a higher correlation between economic deprivation and poor schooling than any other rich country and a major skills mismatch, with lots more students going to university but lots leaving school without any skills at all."We have a higher correlation between economic deprivation and poor schooling than any other rich country and a major skills mismatch, with lots more students going to university but lots leaving school without any skills at all.
"That's a threat not only to our economy but social cohesion more generally. This will give a legitimacy and a strength to this whole approach to finance.""That's a threat not only to our economy but social cohesion more generally. This will give a legitimacy and a strength to this whole approach to finance."
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