NATIONAL DRIVERS REGIONAL PRIORITIES LOCAL PRIORITIES PRACTICAL TOOLS PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT CASE STUDIES FURTHER INFORMATION

National drivers and policy areas

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This module sets out national drivers and policy areas that can influence how culture and sport are reflected in local area agreements and sustainable community strategies.

National drivers and policy areas
Strong and prosperous communities Change for Children Health improvement Equalities, integration and cohesion Community Safety Skills and workforce development
  • Strong and prosperous communities - The Local Government White Paper (2006)
Implications for culture and sport
  • New capital investment, including in play areas and existing cultural and sports facilities.
  • Access and investment for children and young people to take part in positive activities and play
  • Extended school activities

  • 5 hour sport offer / 5 hour cultural offer pilot

  • Delivering the Every Child Matters outcomes

  • Including lifelong learning, play and leisure services in Children and Young People's Plans
  • Leisure activities in care plans
  • Free local authority leisure and play provision for looked after children and young people
  • Managing the balance between risk and challenge in play, sport and cultural activities.
  • Reducing the risk factors associated with ill health, including tackling obesity
  • Reducing health inequalities
  • Supporting and promoting health and well-being, personalised services and choice
  • Contribution of sports, culture and leisure to building integration and cohesion
  • Culture and sport representation on LSP cohesion sub-groups
  • Participation in cultural and sports activities through early years and family support
  • Access to cultural and sports opportunities through personalised services

  • Promoting equality of opportunity and taking account of people's disabilities and ethnic background in cultural and sports provision

  • Providing accessible and inclusive cultural and sports provision
  • Contribution to community safety and reducing anti-social behaviour
  • Role of sport, constructive activities and volunteering in nurturing respect amongst young people

  • Ensuring provision attracts and engages children and young people who might not normally take part
  • Contribution to increasing aspirations and skills
  • Contribution to employability

  • Providing different entry points for training and levels of training

  • Encouraging innovation and creating an enterprise culture

  • Learning for personal fulfilment, civic participation and community development

  • Recreational, health-related and cultural learning
  • National Skills Academies for creative and cultural skills, and sport and active leisure

There is no statutory duty on local authorities to include culture and sport in local area agreements (LAAs) or sustainable community strategies (SCSs). But government priorities set out in legislation, guidance and strategy documents show that culture and sport are important in their own right and in helping to deliver wider agendas. By responding to these national drivers, as well as to community priorities, local authorities and their partners will be better placed to strengthen the cultural and sports content of their LAAs and SCSs. 

The table above summarises the main national drivers and policy areas influencing how culture and sport are reflected in local area agreements and sustainable community strategies.

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