AO3 Describe the role of the

private, public andvoluntary sectors in

providing local sportingopportunities and

facilitiesJosh Williams

• Public sector sports facilities include parks, sports centres, community halls and swimming pools. The costs of these facilities are met by central and local government through a system of national and local taxation. The public sector regards the provision of leisure services as a social service to the community rather than as a profit-making venture.

• Local authority sports facilities are provided on a discretionary basis, which means that the council does not have to provide them in the same way that it has a legal obligation to provide schools and hospitals.

• Public sector organisations do not have to make a profit like the private sector but they usually break even. This means that the running costs they incur must be equal to the amount of income they receive from subsidies and admission charges. At very least, they must be seen to be giving value for money

• Local authorities should work closely with clubs to encourage participation in those clubs, rather than seeking to provide sports opportunities themselves, which may be opposition to the service provided at club level.

• The main objective of public sector facilities is not, therefore, financial but to provide sports facilities but to provide sports facilities for the whole community. They provide opportunities for sport for people on low incomes by reducing admission costs. The aim is to present a programme of activities that caters for as many communities groups as possible.

• The public sector also aims to extend the use of its facilities as much as possible. This means a centre will be open for as long as possible and will offer a range of other activities, such as fundraising marathons and classes for children during the school holidays. The ultimate objective is to provide as many sports and as many opportunities for leisure activities as possible for the local population

• The private sector is concerned with making money from the products or services it provides. Any profits that are made from the business are shared between those people who invested the money in the first place or are used to develop the business further. Private sector provision is therefore often said to be demand led. This means that private sector organisations will only provide sports activities when there is a profit to be made.

• The private sector is becoming a major player in the provision of sport. However, they are selective as to which activities to be involved with (only those that are profitable), and their pricing structure means that some sectors of the community can not afford the charges.

Health and fitness clubs provide for increasing demand among the public for fitness equipment and fitness classes. The membership fees for such clubs, however, can be expensive, and this may deter some people from joining. Facilities in the private sector therefore unlikely to provide opportunities for minority sports or to subside the cost of participation. Private sector businesses are involved in a wide range of sporting activities. These include sports retail, gambling, spectator sports and sports you can participate in. They also come in many forms. A private sector business that is owned and operated by one person is known as a sole trader. A sole trader might be a freelance sports coach who is self employed and who work in a number of different organisations.

• Voluntary sector organisations usually exist to meet a local need, and thus they vary greatly in terms of size and aims. Often, people with a shared interest form clubs or societies. Committees are sometimes elected by the club’s members so that a more formal structure is established.

• Many Grant initiatives reward voluntary bodies if they do more work because some are in clear need of urgent support.

• Non-Profit making sports clubs are sustained and developed through voluntary effort, administered at little or no cost to the public purse but are penalised financially because they are included as a ‘business’ for the payment of rates and suffer many other tax burdens in which charities are exempt.

The voluntary is also involved in improving the levels of participation in sport.

Voluntary sector organisations can be said to be engaged in community development.

Clubs involved in the voluntary sectors often find sponsorship a way of making money. This is one of the ways they fundraise.

People who cannot afford the fees charged by private clubs might join a local club run by volunteers.

• The LC is a leisure centre located in the city centre of Swansea, Wales, UK. It received a £32 million makeover from the government to provide an affordable leisure facility for all the community to use.

• There are climbing, playing, gym classes and spa facilities.

• All of these facilities are of excellent standard yet are all under £5 throughout the day to maximise use from the public seven days a week.

Swimming costs/timesDuring School Terms

Monday – Friday: 4.00pm – 9.00pm

Saturday – Sunday: 9.00am – 8.00pm

School and Bank Holidays:

Monday – Sunday: 9.00am – 8.00pm

Local school inset days: 11.00am – 8.00pm

Adults: £7 (£6 for Swansea Resident card holders)

Children (4-15yrs): £4

Children (3 & under): FREE

Senior Citizens/PTL card holders: £3

Students: £4 (with valid student I.D.)

(The Waterpark experience is a 2 hour session)