NI ASSEMBLY DEBATE - Rate Relief for Community and Amateur Sports Clubs

Tuesday, 22 November 2011

“That this Assembly recognises the benefits which community and amateur sports clubs bring to local communities; notes the vital role which they play in encouraging participation in sporting activities and the contribution they make in promoting healthy lifestyles; and calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to raise the rate relief afforded to these clubs from 80 percent to 100 percent to ensure parity with equivalent clubs in other parts of the UK.”

I support the motion and I congratulate the member for raising the issue in this Assembly.  It is important that we give our full backing to measures that endorse the functioning of Community and Amateur Sport Clubs.  Of course, critics will chastise the Assembly for tabling this motion when there are more ‘critical issues’ to be addressed.  I believe this is a critical issue that can effectively contribute to better society.  We are in a difficult economic climate and of course we need to address issues that will underpin economic stability and growth, however we also need address the wellbeing of our society, we need to maintain morale when bills are stretching wallets too far and jobs are less than secure.  ‘Keep calm and carry on’ as we British say.  As well encouraging healthier lifestyles, Community and Amateur Sports Clubs boost morale and further help build cohesive communities.  They are an essential element of our social fabric and must be nourished.

Community and Amateur Sport Clubs here currently benefit from 80% tax and rate relief as in the mainland.  80% is great, 100% is better.  20% can amount to huge costs for these clubs and the money may be better spent promoting and facilitating increased membership.  This Assembly, at the very least, should support the discretionary element to make up the remaining 20% as in the mainland, to aid clubs struggling with taxation.  The Ministers of our Executive have the power to review this; I urge them to do so.

A report published last year on into the participation in sport and physical activity in NI agrees that the Executive prioritises participation in sport and physical activity and accordingly provides the necessary funding to implement ‘Sport Matters: The Northern Ireland Strategy for Sport and Physical Recreation, 2009-2019’.  Sports clubs are an important component of Sport and Physical Recreation in NI and deserve their place in NIs Strategy. 

Sport satisfies many elements within our society.  Health benefits are obvious.  The repercussions of weight gain and obesity are fed to us daily, we know we should eat less and exercise more. The recommended 30 minutes five times per week sounds quite boring, however Sport clubs encourage physical activity in an environment that people enjoy and actually want to be part of and will often exceed the exercise recommendations of a healthy lifestyle.  As well as the physical benefits, Sport clubs nourish mental well-being.  It does the head and heart good to ‘get out of the house’, interact with others, create friendships and feel part of something, part of a team.  Further Sport clubs inspire confidence; build essential skills such as good communication and working within a team, necessary attributes for jobseekers. 

Sport clubs encourage community cohesion.  More than ever this is so important in NI.  Some spectator sports have a reputation for antagonising divides.  Sports clubs encourage the opposite.  People are there because they want to be and differences are left at the clubhouse door.  We need to support group likes these that transcend the divide and encourage communities coming together. 

Sport clubs also nurture our future sport champions.  My constituency alone is home to world class sportsmen and women such as Graeme McDowell, Richard Chambers, Alan Campbell, Andrew Trimble and Jenna McCorkell. Undoubtedly these remarkable individuals started their craft in amateur sports clubs.  We must support these clubs to nourish and encourage NIs incredible sporting talent whose successes will snowball huge benefits to NI.

Community and Amateur Sports Clubs are so much more than a kick about on a Tuesday night.  They quietly uphold our communities in various, significant ways.  We need to support these clubs and ease their existence. 100% rate relief is a huge step in the right direction. I wholeheartedly support the motion.

DAVID McCLARTY MLA