Sports Minister announces £93 millon grassroots sports investment

Transcript

00:00 [Applause]

00:03 Well, thank you very much for that. I mean, I think it's a real privilege to be here today.

00:09 We are embarking on a historic investment in the sort of grassroot pitches up and down the country.

00:16 We're investing up to £320 million all over the country,

00:21 so that there are those grassroots facilities for people to get physically active.

00:26 And the reason why that's important is because we've recently published our sports strategy,

00:31 and the aim of that is to get 3.5 million people more active by 2030.

00:37 But to do that, we need places for people to go, to kick a ball around, to get active, to come together,

00:45 and show that sort of journey to becoming a much healthier and happier nation.

00:49 Because we know that when people are physically active, they are much happier in their lives.

00:55 They're obviously much healthier.

00:57 And so to see this facility today is absolutely fantastic.

01:01 Over £700,000 being invested here, which is part of the £90 million we're investing this year around the country.

01:09 And I want to say a big thank you to all the partners, to the Football Foundation, to the Premier League, the FA, the Council,

01:17 for all those people that have been working hard.

01:20 And I know Gillian and her team have been working to get this sort of investment in this area.

01:26 So I'm really, really pleased to see it.

01:29 And also I want to say a big thank you to all those that are involved in clubs like this.

01:33 People who give of their time so that actually these clubs can exist and that we can see those activities.

01:40 And it's great to hear that there's going to be different types of sports being used here,

01:47 because at the end of the day, people are interested in different activities and that's what we need to get them really active.

01:54 So it's absolutely brilliant to be here today.

01:57 I think I've got one of the best jobs in government.

01:59 Gillian, you may disagree, but I think I've got one of the best jobs in government,

02:03 because I get to see facilities like this and the amazing work.

02:07 And the other thing I wanted to pay tribute to is the community work you're doing,

02:11 about working with people who are homeless, refugee groups, but also how to help people with disabilities become active too.

02:19 So a massive tribute to everybody involved and absolutely delighted to be here.

02:26 [Applause]