Sport England funding to support the development of a diverse coaching workforce in England
UK Coaching is one of over 120 organisations working in partnership with Sport England to level up access to sport and physical activity across the country

UK Coaching will receive expertise, support and an investment of £10million of government and National Lottery funding from Sport England to co-deliver the ambitious 10-year 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.
Mark Gannon, CEO of UK Coaching, said:
We are delighted to receive investment from Sport England. In line with the strategy for sport and physical activity, Uniting the Movement, we will play a critical role in supporting the development of a diverse coaching workforce and help to make coaching more accessible for all.
“UK Coaching exists to support all existing and aspiring coaches, and by working with other system partners, we can ensure the coaching workforce is better equipped to provide the best possible experience for existing and new participants.
“This funding will ensure UK Coaching works with the necessary partners to inspire and develop a movement of coaches within local communities, which will contribute to our collective vision for a healthier and happier nation, with #GreatCoaching as the catalyst.”
Over £550million is being invested in total, with the partners including UK Coaching 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.
All partner organisations were selected by Sport England due to their ability to influence change and improvement at the heart of the system they are a part of, no matter how big or small. This is the first step on a journey to revolutionise Sport England’s approach to long-term partnerships as it seeks to partner and collaborate with innovative organisations to deliver Uniting the Movement and build a nation where everyone can get active.
Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of Sport England, said:
Sport England’s goal is to get everyone active– no matter who they are, where they live, or what their background is. We can only innovate and tackle inequalities effectively by thinking about long-term change; Uniting the Movement is a long-term vision, and our funding approach needs to reflect that. Changes to our funding model will help us achieve our goal, by making it easier for our partners to do what they need to do to level up and deliver.”
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