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The First Minister has been warned Scottish sport is in crisis and ‘running on empty’ following his Government’s failure to double annual funding to £100million per year.
Thirty-nine different sports have written a joint letter to John Swinney, asking him to finally deliver on a manifesto pledge from 2021 which promised to double funding for sport and active living by the end of the parliamentary term.
The Scottish Government appear happy to bask in the glow of success following Scotland’s national football team reaching the World Cup finals, at the same time as the Tour de France Grand Depart, Euro 2028 and the Commonwealth Games are all coming to Scotland over the next few years.
Away from the glamour events, however, grassroots sport is crying out to be properly funded and supported. And there are real fears that Scottish people will miss out on participation unless financial cuts are reversed.
Daily Mail Sport - having first reported on the issue two years ago - can reveal that leaders from football, rugby, swimming, athletics, cycling, judo, golf, cricket and gymnastics are among those who have signed the letter in a last-ditch attempt to have the Government policy rubber-stamped in the upcoming Scottish Budget.
John Swinney was a guest of the SFA at Scotland's victory over Denmark on Tuesday
Swinney joined the Duchess of Edinburgh at the 2027 Tour de France launch event
Scotland will host the Grand Depart in 2027 - just one of a number of high-profile sporting events coming to the country over the next few years
The Scottish Governing Body for Sport Forum (SGB), who represent senior leaders in sports across Scotland, say a ‘perfect storm of rising costs, increased demand and reduced real terms funding’ threaten ‘the ability of many to continue to operate properly and reduces their ability to support vital community programmes’.
In the letter, which has been seen by Daily Mail Sport, the SGB seek assurances that investment in sport remains a priority as Holyrood prepares for the final Budget before this Parliament comes to an end.
Since 2022, Daily Mail Sport have been asking the Scottish Government when their funding pledge will be fulfilled ,and have been consistently told that it remains their ‘ambition’ rather than a firm ‘commitment.
Post-Covid challenges and pressures elsewhere have been cited to the SGB as to why the funding never materialised, but it’s felt that the time is now to build on Scotland’s sporting success.
Doc McKelvey, chief executive of Scottish Gymnastics and chair of SGB Forum said: ‘You can’t underestimate the power of sport and the power of that feel good factor that we saw (at Hampden) the other night. We all know the benefits of sport, not just physically but mentally as well.
‘What we now have with Scotland going to the World Cup, with the home Commonwealth Games and the Tour De France Grand Depart are yet more opportunities for communities, for sports clubs across the country to continue to build that community cohesion which we know is so important.
‘It’s not just about the role models that will be participating in these major, global events, it’s about the impact at a grassroots level, the unseen or unsung work that community sports clubs do and the impact of bringing communities together day in, day out.
‘The players in that Scotland team all started in a local football club. If we don’t get this right, it would be a huge, missed opportunity if the government don’t take the opportunity that has only been enhanced by the football team’s achievements.’
McKelvey added: ‘Overall funding of sport from the Government is just under £50m per year and the amount of that going to governing bodies is considerably less. That is a real terms cut over the last four years when inflation is considered.
‘To be clear, this is funding to allow governing bodies to operate at even the most basic level. We’ve had to mend and make do over the last few years but, for many, we are now running on empty.’
Swinney has been told the country must build on Scotland qualifying for the World Cup
The picture is particularly bleak for those running sports governing bodies.
The total payroll costs of those with the greatest reliance on public funding has grown by over £7m in the past four years. Over the same period, sportscotland has only been able to support an increased investment of £1.4m due to funding constraints.
A survey of SGBs, conducted by consultancy firm 56° North, found almost all have had to cut costs, reduce programmes and, in some cases, lose staff just to be able to keep going.
The bodies also said the real terms cuts means sport is becoming less inclusive and less able to help achieve desired health and social-cohesion outcomes. Most have had to increase membership fees, cut back on community programmes, and take smaller squads to competition. Some have been unable to fund a significant number of athletes competing on the world stage, many of whom often have to pay to attend events out of their own pockets.
Most worryingly, 88 per cent of SGBs are concerned about their capabilities and their future if no additional budget is provided.
Several case studies, seen by the Daily Mail, detail a worrying future for sports should funding not be implemented quickly.
Across the board, grassroots sport has been heavily impacted. Competitions are now being reduced due to costs, poor facilities and lack of staff.
Rising operational costs and service charges, meanwhile, have caused ‘real financial stress and uncertainty’, leading to an inability to ‘plan and invest confidently in both talent and the wider community’.
At the high-performance end, costs have impacted the ability to travel and play abroad.
Investment in para and adaptive equipment has also been impacted, and provision for primary schools’ participation.
Scotland will also host the Commonwealth Games next year in Glasgow
The SGBs say they have had positive discussions with Government ministers but are calling for urgent action to improve the current crisis.
It’s understood they will ask all political parties contesting next year’s Holyrood elections to commit to matching and fulfilling the pledge as well as supporting a more sustainable long-term funding approach.
Nick Rennie, chief executive of Scottish Cycling said: ‘This crisis affects all bodies, big and small. We are operating under unsustainable financial pressures, which are having a significant impact on the decisions we make and will continue to have to make if we do not receive additional financial support.
‘The Scottish Government has been sympathetic to our position, and we understand the challenges they have faced and are facing, but the truth is, we’re running on empty.’
Governing bodies say they have taken mitigating action by increasing membership fees, reducing programme budgets, and exploring alternative funding streams, but claim all options have now been exhausted. If investment is not forthcoming, they insist it could lead to further programme cuts, membership fee increases and potential redundancies.
It comes at a time when Scottish Household Survey results from 2023 revealed 37 per cent of adults and 38 per cent of children do not meet recommended levels of physical activity.
Daily Mail Sport understands signatories to the letter cover the following sporting bodies: Badminton, Basketball, Bowls, Boxing, Commonwealth Games Scotland, Cricket, Horse Scotland, Judo, Mountaineering, Netball, Paddle Scotland, Ramblers, Yachting, Archery, Curling, Cycling, Disability, Fencing, the SFA, Golf, Gymnastics, Handball, Hockey, Orienteering, Rowing, Scottish Rugby, Squash, Student Sport, Surfing, Swimming, Target Shooting, Volleyball, Athletics, Snowsport, Table Tennis, Tennis, the Camanach Association, Triathlon, Waterski and Wakeboard.
