Following my visit to Harefield United, I raised the issue of grassroots sports clubs not being able to access the excellent sporting facilities in schools, during DCMS Questions this week.
I was pleased to receive assurances from the Minister that his Department has been working with the Department for Education and plans are in place to ensure the wider use of school facilities for sporting activities.
You can read the full exchange below:
On Monday I visited Harefield United football club in my constituency, which told me, as many other grassroots football clubs do, of its frustration at being unable to access excellent facilities in local schools. What discussions have taken place between the Department and the Department for Education about opening up those brilliant facilities to a wider range of grassroots sports clubs?
My hon. Friend makes a really important point. We have to open up school facilities for more sporting activities. I have already had several conversations with DFE Ministers about opening up school facilities. We are also working together on the school sport and activity action plan, and in the spending review additional money was allocated to support the opening up of school facilities and the teaching of PE in primary schools. My hon. Friend is raising a really important point; more action will be taken.
