Sport in Scotland: An Overview of Legislation, Governance, Policy and Funding

Sportscotland, as the national sporting agency, and the Scottish Government are central to the structure of sport and physical activity in Scotland. Both work with various organisations to oversee sport and physical activity at a national and local level.

Image: Appendix 1: Scotland's Structure for Sport and Physical Activity in Scotland

Image: Appendix 2: Relationships Between Key Organisations for Structure of Sport and Physical Activity in Scotland

Aberdeen City - Sport Aberdeen. Aberdeenshire - Live Life Aberdeenshire. Angus - ANGUSalive. Argyll and Bute - Live Argyll. City of Edinburgh - Edinburgh Leisure. Dundee City - Leisure and Culture Dundee. East Ayrshire - East Ayrshire Leisure Trust. East Dunbartonshire - East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Cultural Trust. East Lothian - Enjoy Leisure. East Renfrewshire - East Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure. Fife - Fife Sports and Leisure. Glasgow City - Glasgow Life. Highland - High Life Highland. Inverclyde - Inverclyde Leisure. North Ayrshire - K:A Leisure. North Lanarkshire - Active NL. Perth and Kinross - Live Active Leisure. Renfrewshire - OneRen. Scottish Borders - Live Borders. Shetland Islands - Shetland Recreational Leisure and Culture. South Lanarkshire - South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture. Stirling - Active Stirling. West Dunbartonshire - West Dunbartonshire Leisure. West Lothian - Xcite.

Image: Appendix 3: Leisure trusts contracted by local authorities, as of April 2024

No data was reported in 2019-20 and 2021-22 due to Covid-19.Participant numbers increased from 289,818 in 2013-14 to 312,808 in 2018-19, and following Covid-19 has increased from 217,995 in 2021-22 to 269,398 in 2022-23. Sessions delivered increased from 312,043 in 2013-14 to 397,500 in 2018-19, and following Covid-19 has increased from 178,673 in 2021-22 to 246,999 in 2022-23. The percentage of the school roll reached was 43% in 2015-16 and 2016-17; 45% in 2018-19; and following Covid-19 increased from 31% in 2021-22 to 38% in 2022-23. Visits have increased from 5.8m in 2013-14 to 7.28m in 2018-19, and following Covid-19 have increased from 3.48m in 2021-22 to 4.66m in 2022-23. The percentage of voluntary delivers has steadily increased from 84% in 2013-14 to 90% in 2022-23.

Image: Appendix 4: Overview of the reach of the Active Schools Programme (2013/14 - 2022/23)

Image: Figure 2: The Scottish Sporting System

This chart highlights sportscotland funding received from Scottish Government (SG) and National Lottery (NL) drawdown for 2019/20 (SG - £32.6m; NL - £33.2m), 2020/21 (SG - £38.6m; NL - £25.9m), 2021/22 (SG - £35.5m; NL - £26.3m) and 2022/23 (SG - £34.4m; NL - £30.1m).

Image: Figure 2: Scottish Government and National Lottery funding of sportscotland (2019/20 – 2022/23)

Sportscotland provided SGBs and National Partners with £18.5m worth of investment for 2022/23 and £20.5m for 2023/24. Sportscotland provided local authorities with £15.2m worth of investment for 2022/23 and £16.2m for 2023/24.

Image: Figure 3: Sportscotland investment figures for SGBs, local authorities and national partners (2022/23 & 2023/24)

This chart highlights sportscotland expenditure for Schools & Education, Clubs & Communities and Performance Sport between 2019/20 and 2022/23. Total expenditure ranged between £58.6m in 2020/21 and £68.3m in 2019/20. Clubs & Communities consistently was the largest expenditure (£26.0-29.0m), whilst Performance Sport received the least funding (£15.9-17.8m) except in 2029/20 (£25.4m).

Image: Figure 4: Breakdown of sportscotland expenditure (2019/20 – 2022/23)

Scottish Government (£34.6m) and estimated National Lottery Distribution Fund Investment (£28.6m) remain constant between 2023/24 and 2024/25. Estimated National Lottery Distribution Fund Balance Spend was £7.8m for 2023/24 and £5.6m for 2024/25.

Image: Figure 5: Scottish Government funding and estimated National Lottery funding of sportscotland (2023/24 – 2024/25)

The proportion of adults meeting MVPA guidelines was fairly constant between 2017-2019, peaking in 2020 (men - 73%; women - 65%; all - 69%), before declining again in 2022 (men - 70%; women - 60%; all - 65%).

Image: Figure 6: Summary of Scottish adults meeting MVPA guidelines (2017 – 2022)

The proportion of adults meeting MVPA guidelines decreases as deprivation level increases (SIMD5 - 73%; SIMD3 - 65%; SIMD1 - 57%). Meanwhile, the proportion of adults participating in a very low amount of activity increases as deprivation level increases (SIMD5 - 13%; SIMD3 - 23%; SIMD1 - 31%).

Image: Figure 7: Summary of Scottish adults meeting the MVPA guidelines by SIMD quintiles in 2022

After 25-34 years, the proportion of adults meeting neither MVPA or muscle strengthening activity guidelines increases as age increases (16-24 years - 24%; 25-34 years - 20%; 75+ years - 63%). The proportion of adults meeting both recommendations decreases with age after 25-34 years (16-24 years - 42%; 25-34 years - 43%; 75+ years - 7%).

Image: Figure 8: Summary of Scottish adults meeting MVPA and/or muscle strengthening activity guidelines by age in 2022

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