Rise among first to receive system partner funding from Sport England

Rise is among the first group of over 40 organisations working in partnership with Sport England to receive funding from its new funding model. Rise has a foundational role in the sport and physical activity sector and is therefore well placed to help level up access to sport and physical activity across the country.  

Rise will receive an investment of £4.2m of government and National Lottery funding from Sport England. Rise has been awarded long-term funding because it has committed to co-deliver change at a national and local level, to help more people enjoy the benefits of playing sport and being active.  

Clare Morley, CEO of Rise, said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership working with Sport England through this next phase of investment. With the launch of our ten year strategy, Rise Together, last year, we placed tackling inequalities at the heart of what we do.  The investment will enable us to ensure that across Northumberland and Tyne & Wear, physical activity and movement are being used to, amongst other things, tackle the climate crisis and support both mental and physical wellbeing.” 

All partner organisations were selected by Sport England due to their ability to influence positive change and improvement throughout the sector, their own networks, and beyond.  This is the first step on a journey to revolutionise Sport England’s approach to long-term partnerships which will see it build new relationships with innovative organisations, as well with existing partners, local partners and delivery partners to further the Uniting the Movement strategy. 

Sport England research shows that some groups are typically less active – like women, people with long-term health conditions, disabled people, people from ethnically diverse communities and lower socio-economic groups. Right now, the opportunities to get involved in sport and activity – and reap the rewards of being active – depend too much on your background, your gender, your bank balance and your postcode. 

The funding will enable Rise to continue to advocate for strong and influential systems leadership, recognising that broad role that physical activity can play in supporting our communities who need it the most. Rise will focus on having strong governance and integrity and help to  create and maintain inclusive and safe cultures within sport and physical activity across Northumberland and Tyne & Wear. 

Over £193 million is being invested for this first group, with the 43 partners, including Rise receiving funding for up to five years. This new funding model from Sport England provides longer-term financial security as organisations recover and reinvent from the Covid-19 pandemic.   

Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of Sport England, said: “Sport England’s Uniting the Movement strategy aims to help everyone play sport and get active– no matter who they are, where they live, or what their background. But we know that certain groups are more likely to be inactive and need targeted support and investment. We can only innovate and tackle these inequalities effectively with collective action, recognising that this is about long-term change.  

Rise is one of a huge number of partners we are looking to work with on exactly this over the coming years.  They play a foundational role within the sport and physical activity sector and are therefore well-placed to create the conditions for change.  They will also act as a resource for other innovative organisations with the same goals as we seek to create a more equal society with everyone benefitting from sport and physical activity.”