Written questions by Hussain.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the financial sustainability of grassroots boxing gyms.

The Government recognises that sports clubs and facilities are important to communities up and down the country. Everyone, no matter who they are or where they live, should have access to high-quality, inclusive facilities, and opportunities to participate in sport and physical activity.Through Sport England, England Boxing will receive over £9 million of funding through the period 2022 - 2029. 75% of affiliated English Boxing clubs are located in deprived, urban neighborhoods, serving marginalised communities identified by Sport England as key target groups for increasing sports participation. These clubs operate at low cost, promoting community cohesion, and are often available where other sports are not.I met with the APPG for Boxing and members of the sector last year to discuss the positive impacts of boxing on participants and how the Government can support grassroots boxing.

Media and Sport, what proportion of public funding for sport is allocated directly to grassroots clubs.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery Funding. Sport England allocates funds to National Governing Bodies and grassroots sports providers primarily based on their ability to deliver against the aims set out in their ‘Uniting the Movement’ strategy around getting more people active, reducing the number of inactive people and tackling long-standing inequalities. Sport England’s website provides transparency data about how their funding is invested. As part of this, Sport England are committed to reducing inactivity within lower socio-economic groups. Through their place partnership work, they have invested into more than 90 places across England, focusing resources and efforts on communities that need the greatest levels of support and experience the greatest levels of inequality. Each place is in the top 20% of the country for inactivity, social need, deprivation and health inequality at a national level.

Media and Sport, what criteria are used to determine allocations between national governing bodies and grassroots sport providers.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery Funding. Sport England allocates funds to National Governing Bodies and grassroots sports providers primarily based on their ability to deliver against the aims set out in their ‘Uniting the Movement’ strategy around getting more people active, reducing the number of inactive people and tackling long-standing inequalities. Sport England’s website provides transparency data about how their funding is invested. As part of this, Sport England are committed to reducing inactivity within lower socio-economic groups. Through their place partnership work, they have invested into more than 90 places across England, focusing resources and efforts on communities that need the greatest levels of support and experience the greatest levels of inequality. Each place is in the top 20% of the country for inactivity, social need, deprivation and health inequality at a national level.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to improve transparency in the allocation of grassroots sport funding.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery Funding. Sport England allocates funds to National Governing Bodies and grassroots sports providers primarily based on their ability to deliver against the aims set out in their ‘Uniting the Movement’ strategy around getting more people active, reducing the number of inactive people and tackling long-standing inequalities. Sport England’s website provides transparency data about how their funding is invested. As part of this, Sport England are committed to reducing inactivity within lower socio-economic groups. Through their place partnership work, they have invested into more than 90 places across England, focusing resources and efforts on communities that need the greatest levels of support and experience the greatest levels of inequality. Each place is in the top 20% of the country for inactivity, social need, deprivation and health inequality at a national level.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure grassroots sport funding reaches areas of high deprivation.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery Funding. Sport England allocates funds to National Governing Bodies and grassroots sports providers primarily based on their ability to deliver against the aims set out in their ‘Uniting the Movement’ strategy around getting more people active, reducing the number of inactive people and tackling long-standing inequalities. Sport England’s website provides transparency data about how their funding is invested. As part of this, Sport England are committed to reducing inactivity within lower socio-economic groups. Through their place partnership work, they have invested into more than 90 places across England, focusing resources and efforts on communities that need the greatest levels of support and experience the greatest levels of inequality. Each place is in the top 20% of the country for inactivity, social need, deprivation and health inequality at a national level.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the role of grassroots boxing clubs in youth diversion.

The Government recognises the transformative role that grassroots boxing clubs play in supporting the nation’s mental health and wellbeing. Our 'Team Up' campaign, which was designed to bolster the resilience and mental health of communities nationwide, also brought to attention the significant role boxing plays in supporting these vital areas for young men.Boxing clubs provide pastoral and educational support to young people and adults in need, and also help to promote social inclusion, tackle criminal activity and antisocial behaviour, and deliver improvements in physical and mental wellbeing.Through Sport England, England boxing will receive over £9 million of funding through the period 2022 - 2029. 75% of affiliated English Boxing clubs are located in deprived, urban neighborhoods, serving marginalised communities identified by Sport England as key target groups for increasing sports participation. These clubs operate at low cost, promoting community cohesion, and are often available where other sports are not.I recently met with the APPG for Boxing and members of the sector to discuss the positive impacts of boxing on participants and how the Government can support grassroots boxing.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the role of grassroots boxing clubs in supporting mental health and wellbeing.

The Government recognises the transformative role that grassroots boxing clubs play in supporting the nation’s mental health and wellbeing. Our 'Team Up' campaign, which was designed to bolster the resilience and mental health of communities nationwide, also brought to attention the significant role boxing plays in supporting these vital areas for young men.Boxing clubs provide pastoral and educational support to young people and adults in need, and also help to promote social inclusion, tackle criminal activity and antisocial behaviour, and deliver improvements in physical and mental wellbeing.Through Sport England, England boxing will receive over £9 million of funding through the period 2022 - 2029. 75% of affiliated English Boxing clubs are located in deprived, urban neighborhoods, serving marginalised communities identified by Sport England as key target groups for increasing sports participation. These clubs operate at low cost, promoting community cohesion, and are often available where other sports are not.I recently met with the APPG for Boxing and members of the sector to discuss the positive impacts of boxing on participants and how the Government can support grassroots boxing.

Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of sport-based diversionary activity in preventing anti-social behaviour among young people.

Sport can be a uniquely powerful tool to engage at-risk young people.The Government, through its arm’s-length body for grassroots sport, Sport England, invests in community-level sport and physical activity projects across the country. This includes investing in organisations like StreetGames, whose "doorstop approach” to sport has been evaluated as effective in reducing youth crime and anti-social behaviour, alongside improving health and boosting educational attainment and employability.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the contribution of grassroots boxing clubs to community wellbeing.

The Government recognises the transformative role that grassroots boxing clubs play in supporting the nation’s mental health and wellbeing. Our 'Team Up' campaign, which was designed to bolster the resilience and mental health of communities nationwide, also brought to attention the significant role boxing plays in supporting these vital areas for young men.Boxing clubs provide pastoral and educational support to young people and adults in need, and also help to promote social inclusion, tackle criminal activity and antisocial behaviour, and deliver improvements in physical and mental wellbeing.Through Sport England, England boxing will receive over £9 million of funding through the period 2022 - 2029. 75% of affiliated English Boxing clubs are located in deprived, urban neighborhoods, serving marginalised communities identified by Sport England as key target groups for increasing sports participation. These clubs operate at low cost, promoting community cohesion, and are often available where other sports are not.I recently met with the APPG for Boxing and members of the sector to discuss the positive impacts of boxing on participants and how the Government can support grassroots boxing.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the contribution of grassroots boxing clubs to community cohesion.

The Government recognises the transformative role that grassroots boxing clubs play in supporting the nation’s mental health and wellbeing. Our 'Team Up' campaign, which was designed to bolster the resilience and mental health of communities nationwide, also brought to attention the significant role boxing plays in supporting these vital areas for young men.Boxing clubs provide pastoral and educational support to young people and adults in need, and also help to promote social inclusion, tackle criminal activity and antisocial behaviour, and deliver improvements in physical and mental wellbeing.Through Sport England, England boxing will receive over £9 million of funding through the period 2022 - 2029. 75% of affiliated English Boxing clubs are located in deprived, urban neighborhoods, serving marginalised communities identified by Sport England as key target groups for increasing sports participation. These clubs operate at low cost, promoting community cohesion, and are often available where other sports are not.I recently met with the APPG for Boxing and members of the sector to discuss the positive impacts of boxing on participants and how the Government can support grassroots boxing.