Provision for active leisure

Question 1

Badminton clubs organised by the voluntary sector provide opportunities for recreation within
the local community.
What are the characteristics and goals of the voluntary sector?

Answer 1

Characteristics
Run by members / committee / AGM / un-paid volunteers / parents / community;
Not just run by volunteers
Possibly on trust / charity basis / limited company;
Financed by members’ fees / fundraising / bartake / sponsorship / donations / grants /
lottery;
About how money is raised
Runs on profit-loss / profit not an overriding concern / money placed back into club.
About what you do with the money;
Goal
Provide for grass roots of sport;
Tries to increase participation and equal opportunities
Improve performance levels in their sport / look for talent;
Meet up with people with similar interests / social.

Question 2

How could public sector provision encourage increased participation for those in lower socioeconomic
groups?

Answer 2

Advertising / publicity / role models.
Reduced costs / entry fees / equipment / hire fees.
Taster / sampling sessions / fun days.
More inner city facilities.
Session run at suitable times / crèches
School extra-curricular sessions.

Question 3

Provision for recreation may be through the voluntary sector, public sector or private sector.
What are the characteristics of public sector provision?

Answer 3

Business run by Local Authority / Council.
Key term is Local Authority / Council – NOT government.
For local community use / anyone.
Trading at set prices / pre-set budget / no need for profit.
NOT profit-loss basis
Subsidised by tax / grants.
Accept government funding
Managed by LA employees / some aspects run privately / PFI / PPI.
Facilities not as good as private sector.
Can be ‘pay as you go’ / not necessarily subscription-based / subsidised use
/ more affordable fees than private facilities.

Question 4

The government introduced the ‘best value’ policy in an attempt to improve recreational and
sport provision.
Outline the main features of the ‘best value’ policy.

Answer 4

Public sector forced to account more for the use of local taxes.
Consider best value for money / improve efficiency of provision / resources /
funds / experiences they offer.
Use of private sector methods to achieve / eg better facilities / more classes.
Find out what local people want and expect / quality of life / community choice
/ consult.
Set standards and deliver services to match those standards / compare.
Measure success / compete.
Review expectations / challenge.

Question 5

During the past ten years there has been an increase in membership of ‘private’ fitness
clubs. What are the advantages of being a member of a private fitness club?

Answer 5

Advantages:
More choice of activities / facilities.
Idea of public or private.
Better quality facilities / equipment / personal trainers.
Elitist / feel special / exclusive.
Expensive / high fees – not an advantage.
Social benefits / meeting others.
More opportunity to keep fit and healthy / less crowded.
Idea of ease of access / different from the first point

Question 6

Current provision for physical activities may be provided by the voluntary sector, the public
sector or the private sector. What are the characteristics of the ‘private sector’?

Answer 6

(Privately owned) companies / businesses;
Trading on normal profit / loss / self-financed;
Managed by owners / employees;
Exclusive / better facilities / personal trainers;
Higher membership fees / expensive.

Question 7

During the past decade there has been an increase in membership of private fitness clubs.
What are the advantages and the disadvantages for the general public of more private fitness
clubs opening?

Answer 7

Advantages
More choice
Idea is can go public or private
Better / more up to date facilities;
Personal trainer / more expertise;
More opportunities to keep fit.
Equipment freely available.
Special deals for customers / family membership;
Disadvantages.
More costly;
Too expensive for some / elitist;
Less numbers / ‘get out’ for local authorities / public providers;
Public services suffer.

Question 8

The UK Government is encouraging organisations to increase participation in sport and
active leisure. How can schools and community sports clubs work together to increase participation in physical
activity?

Answer 8

Publicise / advertise / notice boards;
Increase links between the two / visits / liaison / school–club links / personnel / coaches;
Dual use / sharing facilities;
Local / Government policy / eg PESSCLS / sports colleges / sport development officers /
SSCOs;
Offer discounts / membership / subsidised use of facilities / youth sections;
Offer (increased) range of activities / roles / extra curricular activities;
Come and try days / taster sessions / holiday scheme;
Increased awareness of health and fitness issues.

Question 9

Most clubs in the UK are run by volunteers. What are the characteristics and goals of this
voluntary sector?

Answer 9

Run by members / committee / unpaid staff / parents.
Possibly on trust / charity basis.
Financed by members’ fees / fund-raising / sponsorship / money placed back into club.
Runs on profit-loss but profit not an overriding concern.
Provide for grass roots of sport.
Tries to increase participation / performance in their sport / look for talent.
Meet up with people with similar interests.

Question 10

In the United Kingdom (UK), the majority of participants in sporting activities do so through a
club structure. People can participate in sport and physical recreation using both public and private sector
facilities. Explain the difference between the public and private sectors.

Answer 10

Public – open to all / subsidised service / social need / policy / run by local
authorities.
Private – exclusive / ability to pay / make a profit / commercial
business.

Question 11

How and why has the relationship between these two sectors changed in recent years?

Answer 11

Public sector forced to account more for the use of local taxes.
Need to improve efficiency of provision / resources / funds.
Use of private sector methods to achieve the above / egs better facilities,
qualified staff, surveys.
Hence partnerships developed between the two sectors / working together /
private companies running public facilities.
Policy of ‘best value’.
Brief / basic explanation of best value / improving provision for minimal cost.