Governing bodies have taken various mitigating actions by increasing membership fees, reducing programme budgets, and exploring alternative funding streams, but say that all options have now been exhausted and if investment is not forthcoming, then the consequences will mean further programme cuts, membership fee increases and potentially more redundancies.
GOVERNANCE/
November 2025
CRICKET SCOTLAND SUPPORTS "RUNNING ON EMPTY" CAMPAIGN
Cricket Scotland has today joined 29 other Scottish sports Governing Bodies in writing to the First Minister, requesting that the Scottish Government honour its pledge to double the annual sports funding budget.
The 2021 Programme for Government included a pledge to double annual funding for sport across the country to £100M. With less than six months left of the current Parliament, the pledge remains unfulfilled, and a real terms funding cut of nearly 25% during the last four years has left many Scottish sports governing bodies now struggling to survive. Governing bodies including Cricket Scotland have been pressing the Government through our "Running on Empty" campaign to meet this commitment.
The Scottish Governing Body for Sport Forum (SGB), which represents senior leaders in sports across Scotland, is warning John Swinney that a perfect storm of rising costs, increased demand and reduced real terms funding threatens the ability of many governing bodies to continue to operate properly and reduces their ability to support vital community programmes.
Sport plays a crucial role in health prevention, community cohesion and showcasing Scotland on the global stage. With Scotland co-hosting the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2030, one of several high profile sporting events being staged here in the coming years that will see our country in the global spotlight, now is not the time to hold back on that committed investment.
Post-Covid budget challenges and pressures elsewhere have been cited as why the funding uplift never materialised; however last year, the Government found over £30m for arts and culture after they cited similar challenges to sport and more money has been pledged for that sector this year.
While the impact that the lack of funding has on facilities has been publicised, much of the work of SGBs goes on in the background which means the impact can be less visible publicly.
A survey of 30 Scottish sports organisations conducted by consultancy 56° North, found almost all have had to cut costs, reduce programmes and in some cases lose staff just to be able to keep going.
The bodies also said the real terms cuts means sport is becoming less inclusive and less able to help achieve desired health and social cohesion outcomes. The survey also found that most organisations have had to increase membership fees, cut back on community programmes, take smaller squads to competitions and were unable to fund significant numbers of athletes competing on the world stage who often have to pay for events out of their own pockets.
In addition,
- 88% of SGBs are concerned about their capabilities/future if no additional budget is
provided. - 48% are concerned about their reduced capacity to attend/host events.
- 24% are concerned about grassroots involvement.
- 25% are concerned about inclusion of women/girls.
- 32% are concerned about shortage of officials/staff/trainers due to salary/budget
constraints.
The total payroll costs of those SGBs with the greatest reliance on public funding has grown by over £7m in the past four years. Over the same period, sportscotland has only been able to support an increased investment of £1.4m due to funding constraints.
The SGBs say they have had positive discussions with Government ministers but are calling for urgent action and in addition will be asking all political parties contesting next year’s Holyrood elections, to commit to matching and fulfilling the pledge as well as supporting a more sustainable long term funding approach.