A £1m grant from Sport England to tackle deprivation in physical activity in communities across Sheffield will be discussed by the council later today.
Sheffield Hallam University Services Limited (SHUSL), on behalf of the National Centre for Exercise Medicine (NCSEM) partnership, has successfully secured a two-year Sport England’s Place Expansion funding from April 2026 to March 2028.
The application to Sport England was developed collaboratively with sport and physical activity stakeholders such as Yorkshire Sport Foundation, Sheffield United Community Foundation, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Sheffield Wednesday Community Programme, Sheffield Sharks and Sheffield Eagles.
This funding supports the delivery of the “Move More Sheffield” programme, launched in June 2021, which hopes to reduce deep-rooted health inequalities and physical inactivity.
In order to ensure delivery from April 2026, this proposal requires approval from the Sheffield City Council to become the “accountable body” for the funding and enter into a formal grant agreement with SHUSL.
Sheffield City Council will also provide operational management for two of the eight work packages as part of the Place investment project titled “Community Development & Services” and “Move Well”.
If accepted, the Council will be given operational oversight and delivery of these projects in-line with the conditions set by Sport England.
The first of these work programmes, Community Development & Services, focuses on strengthening community delivery in five prioritised neighbourhoods in Firth Park, Woodthorpe, Arbourthorne, Batemoor & Jordanthorpe and Tinsley.
The focus communities include some of Sheffield’s most diverse areas and some of the most deprived neighbourhoods.
The programme will address systemic barriers, such as cost, and build inclusive pathways for lower income households.
Around £220,000 is allocated to staffing and operational support with an additional £350,000 (£70,000 per neighbourhood) for community services, legal and financial input, support staffing and associated operational delivery costs.
The council already operates and coordinates Move Well, a service supporting residents, especially those with long-term health conditions.
An allowance of £420,000 will enable the opportunity to strengthen and expand this delivery by providing increased capacity to support disabled people and people with terminal health conditions.
Through these programmes, the council hopes to create “great neighbourhoods that people are happy to call home” and “a place where children belong and all young people can build a successful future”.
The final decision on whether the £1m grant will be accepted will take place at the Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee meeting at Sheffield Town Hall at 2pm on March 23.
