Sport

Inspiring an active Jersey

Inspiring an active Jersey 2020-2030 was published by the Government in October 2020. The press release stated –

The report, Inspiring an Active Jersey 2020 – 2030, sets the vision for Jersey becoming a healthier, more productive and fairer society by being one of the most physically active populations in the world, and gives a target of increasing physical activity by 10 percentage points by 2030.

The framework is based the World Health Organisation’s recommendations and sets four strategic objectives: to create active societies, create active environments, create active people, and create active systems.

Jersey Sport, funded by the government, is the lead partner and responsible for creating and overseeing the strategy. Jersey Sport was formed in June 2017 as the independent body for the development of sport and active living in Jersey. It is an arms-length organisation supported by the Government. Its mission is –

To inspire, lead and enable positive wellbeing for all through lifelong engagement with sport and active living

Jersey Sport established five principles governing the strategy –

1. The opportunity to be regularly active will be fair and equitable.
2. Islanders will be encouraged and supported to embed active living into their everyday.
3. We are a proud sporting island that celebrates sporting success from grassroots to greatness; built on a foundation of enjoyment.
4. Sport and active living is an essential thread that is weaved throughout the fabric of Jersey; it contributes significantly to quality of life and will be included as a priority in all relevant policy.
5. Supporting Islanders to be more physically active is a collective responsibility requiring adequately-resourced collaboration across all Government departments, the private sector and the volunteer and community sectors.

Jersey Sport advocated seven key priorities to be taken forward. These are focused on increasing the number of adults, children and young people participating in sport and other activities in order to support good physical and mental health –

1. Supporting sport – Sports Development
2. Supporting sport – Volunteer Workforce
3. Inspiring Active Places
4. Active Travel and Open Spaces
5. Move More Increasing Participation
6. Move More Health Improvement
7. Move More Schools and Children

On 5 September 2025 the Government published an update report and next steps on the Inspiring an Active Jersey strategy.  The press release said –

The report gives an update on the work undertaken by Government and partners, including Jersey Sport, to help reduce inactivity and improve the health and wellbeing of Islanders.

Constable Andy Jehan, Assistant Minister for Sustainable Economic Development with responsibility for sport, said: “As we pass the midway point of the delivery of the IAJ strategy, it is the right time to assess our position. Good progress has been made, but we are under no illusions that more needs to be done and we all have a role to play. There is a determination to engage with Islanders of all ages and backgrounds to reduce inactivity, and this must continue. However, this review has shown the areas where we should focus.

“Our sports community has shown great resilience and remains in a strong position, in spite of challenges such as COVID-19 which occurred in the early stages of the strategy. We continue to support sport and physical activity through the completion of Oakfield Sports Centre, a significant milestone for Jersey, and by making best use of all our public assets. I am confident that we are on the right track.”  

The report listed priorities to 2030 –

Physical Activity

1. Increase the percentage of Islanders who meet the recommended levels of physical activity

• Ensure resources are appropriately targeted to increase the physical activity and skills of the least active children and young people (CYPES)
• Launch a Junior Active pilot (I&E)
• Consider developing provision for community sport in areas of need / social inclusion (Justice & Home Affairs and Jersey Sport)
• Review pathways to physical activity (Public Health)
• Develop targeted programmes for the least active (Public Health)
• Encourage employers to implement conditions that support and promote people being active (Public Health)
• Increase the number of inclusive sporting opportunities for Islanders (Jersey Sport)

2. Increase the % of journeys to work usually made by walking, cycling or public transport

• Pilot an Active Travel Project in partnership with Jersey Sport (I&E)
• Deliver active travel infrastructure improvements in the Bagatelle Road and Mont Millais corridor, where many of the Island’s schools are situated (I&E)
• Continue increasing cycle parking provision (I&E)
• Continue providing new/upgraded crossings and providing new/widened footways (I&E)

Sport

3. Increase the percentage of Islanders who have volunteered in sport and physical activity

• Work with Volunteer.je and Jersey Sport to encourage more volunteers (Economy)
• Develop a programme of CPD for coaches and officials (Jersey Sport)

4. Increase the percentage of Islanders who rate Jersey’s range of sporting activities and events as good or very good

• Develop an Events Framework that supports eligible events (Economy)
• Develop support for sports organisations to increase provision for the least active Islanders (Jersey Sport)
• Develop a wider range of support measures for the performance sport programme (Jersey Sport)
• Strengthen the provision of safeguarding in sport (I&E)

5. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

• Develop support for sports organisations to be more environmentally sustainable (I&E)

Facilities

6. Ensure sufficient high-quality facilities are available to meet community requirements

• Secure capital funding for the required sport infrastructure for a 2035 Island Games (I&E)
• Review and update gap analysis for facilities (I&E)

7. Increase the opportunities for all children and young people to fulfil their right to play

• Develop and publish a play strategy (CYPES)

The review of how policies for sport and physical activity are delivered

On 29 November 2023 the Government published A review of sport and physical activity in Jersey by Simon Cooper. The report was commissioned by the Government to examine how its policies for sport and physical activity are delivered, focussing in particular on its own role and that of Jersey Sport. The executive summary of the report made the following points –

• Two key concerns regarding Jersey Sport’s budget were raised consistently during consultation for this review. First was the extent to which expectations have been met about the level of financial support from the Government of Jersey. Second was the importance of fundraising, with very different views expressed about the original commitments made. This appears to be an ongoing source of much dispute, frustration and irritation for all parties.
• Although the Minister for Sport has lead responsibility, a number of other minsters have policies that contribute to the government’s work in sport and physical activity, including ministers for Health and Social Services, Children and Education, Housing and Communities, Social Security, and Infrastructure. This means it is crucial for there to be effective communication and co-ordination between ministers. This does not currently appear to be the case. Consultation for this review suggests that sport is not a priority for the Government of Jersey.
• Jersey Sport’s functions appear to have some in-built conflicts, particularly in respect of Jersey Sport’s role both as a funding organisation and as a deliverer of services. Concerns about Jersey Sport’s work raised during consultation for this review included: high admin costs; its independence from government; spending on promotion and PR; and the lack of specialist knowledge in some areas. There is some confusion about its role on the issue of child protection and safeguarding.
• The government’s commissioning of Jersey Sport to lead development of the Active Jersey strategy meant that the demarcation between strategy, policy and delivery was blurred, leading to confusion about roles and responsibilities – and even whose strategy it is.
• When the strategy was launched, no detail was given about how it would be implemented. There were no KPIs, no ‘road map’ showing the key milestones to achieve delivery of its target, the programmes required to achieve it had not been identified and stakeholders were not aware how they could contribute to its delivery. It was envisaged that these issues would be addressed by establishing an ‘Active Jersey Alliance’, but this work never took place. The COVID pandemic can account for some part of this, but not all. Consequently, it is now three years after the strategy’s launch and no one is able to say what progress has been made toward its delivery. It is difficult to conclude that this is anything other than a serious and significant failure.
• Earlier this year, Jersey Sport published its own ‘2023-2026 Strategy’and ‘Business Plan 2023’. There does not appear to have been any consultation on development of these documents. Neither makes any meaningful reference to ‘Inspiring An Active Jersey’and so it is not possible to say how Jersey Sport is contributing directly to the delivery of its targets.
• The responses to the written consultation should be of serious concern and should not be dismissed or overlooked. Consultation suggests overall that the ‘deal’ that was sold to the sport sector when they agreed to support Jersey Sport being established is not being delivered – and that there is currently deep dissatisfaction with the situation. This seems to be driven by a feeling that there has been a catalogue of broken promises and commitments, resulting in real concern among a large number of stakeholders.

This situation may have arisen from well-meaning but misguided optimism and misunderstandings about commitments made at the time Jersey Sport was established, particularly relating to the budget and fundraising. Jersey Sport was intended to be an advocate and “champion” for sport. The impression given was one of a brighter future for sport, with an improved and richer experience for sports clubs and volunteers, with increased funding to help support their work. In practice, the opposite has happened. Funding for sport has reduced and the sector appears to feel alienated from the very organisation which is supposed to be serving its best interests. In spite of some clear views to the contrary, Jersey Sport maintains that it has never been funded to undertake its original work programme and that this has been raised repeatedly with government, to no avail. For its part, the Government of Jersey has not managed the relationship with Jersey Sport effectively, allowing the current confused and unwelcome situation to develop. Urgent action is required to put this right.

The Report concluded that there are five main options for the Government of Jersey to consider-

1. Return delivery of sport and physical activity ‘in house’.

2. Continue the existing arm’s length arrangement with Jersey Sport, but with delivery strengthened.

3. Assign the delivery function to a different arm’s length organisation.

4. Separate the delivery of sport and physical activity.

5. Establish a ‘Statutory Strategic Body For Sport and Physical Activity’.

The Report made 21 recommendations –

1. The Government of Jersey should review the skills required of its staff carrying out the oversight function with Jersey Sport.

2. Jersey Sport should review its internal reporting arrangements.

3. The Government of Jersey should commission an internal report on the processes and practices of the arm’s length arrangement with Jersey Sport to establish whether they are compliant with the ‘Public Finances Manual’.

4. A review of Jersey Sport’s budget, including a ‘zero based’ budget, should be carried out as a matter of urgency.

5. Jersey Sport should publish a fundraising strategy by the end of March 2024.

6. That the Government of Jersey secures additional funding for sport and physical activity.

7. When the conditions are appropriate, the function to distribute funding from the Channel Islands Lottery for sports projects should be given to Jersey Sport.

8. Co-ordination across the Government of Jersey should be strengthened by the involvement of ministers and officials in a new ‘Sport and Physical Activity Network Group’.

9. The Government of Jersey should identify a ‘client manager’ single point of contact for Jersey Sport.

10. The Government of Jersey should consider re-establishing the work of the sport and facilities team into the same department and report to one minister.

11. Jersey Sport should undertake a review of its delivery function.

12. Jersey Sport should publish its Board of Directors skill matrix.

13. A review should be undertaken on the provision of child protection and safeguarding as part of the budget review recommendation exercise proposed at recommendation 4.

14. Jersey Sport should review its provision for sport as part of the budget review recommendation exercise proposed at recommendation 4.

15. Jersey Sport should reconsider the suitability of separate branding for the “Move More” programme.

16. Consideration should be given to measures to strengthen school sport and PE

• The Government of Jersey should use the review of its Jersey Review Framework to strengthen its policy and approach to physical literacy requirements in schools. In doing so, it should: i) set new minimum physical literacy and curriculum standards; ii) design clear commissioning guidance for the award of contracts to deliver PE and school sport sessions, including a requirement for staff to have the necessary level of qualifications; and iii) carry out rigorous and regular inspection;
• Introduce a ‘School Sport Partnership’ model;
• Establish a multi-sport schools championships in Jersey; and
• Add schools sports facilities to the ‘Active Jersey’ booking App.

17. The Government of Jersey should develop a new, comprehensive strategy for sport and physical activity.

18. The Government of Jersey should take urgent action to –

• set revised KPIs for the ‘Business Plan 2023’ associated with Jersey Sport’s ‘Strategic Plan 2023-2026’ as part of the zero- based budget exercise proposed at Recommendation 4; and
• develop a ‘value for money’ indicator for the funding Jersey Sport receives.

19. Jersey Sport should develop and publish policies on equality and inclusion at the earliest possible opportunity.

20. The Government of Jersey should review its direct delivery approach for existing and new facilities.

21. That Option 2 offers the best immediate way forward, but that consideration be given to Option 5.

Recommendations 2,4, 11, 13, 14, 18 and 21 were identified as those requiring the most urgent attention.

With the exception of Recommendations 10 and 17, the Government has accepted the recommendations in full. The press release accompanying the report said that

The Assistant Minister with responsibility for sport, Deputy Lucy Stephenson……….has accepted the vast majority of the 21 recommendations and has published an initial response with details of actions that are already under way. She said: “It has been more than six years since the Government changed the way it delivered sport and physical activity as well as related policy and strategy, and in that time there had been no formal independent review of how things were working. In commissioning this piece of work, I also listened to the concerns of many sporting organisations and other stakeholders, who told me that they believed the system was not working as effectively as it could or should be.

“I am grateful to Simon for his thorough and detailed report, and to all those at Jersey Sport and in the wider community who engaged with him and shared their views and experiences.

“There is some very good work being carried out by Jersey Sport but it’s clear there are also some shared concerns, especially relating to support for sport. We will now work together to address the issues raised, and I am hopeful that the publication of this report can mark a positive reset in how we collaborate to deliver for Islanders. I’m committed to improving the support for sport in Jersey and promoting the very many benefits it brings to our community.”

The health and social value of recreational sport and physical activity

On 29 November 2023 the Government published a report An assessment of the health and social value of recreational sport and physical activity in Jersey prepared by the consultants 4Global and Sheffield Hallam University. The executive summary of the report reported that –

• Over 7,500 cases of health conditions were prevented in 2019 as a result of sport and physical activity participation across Jersey.
• £18.7 million of health savings generated in 2019 by sport and physical activity participation.
• Over £4.5 million total social value generated through improvements to physical/mental health (£2.1m) and subjective wellbeing (£2.4 million).