Sport as a Charitable Objective, 2003

At the first ever conference on sport as a charitable objective Kate Hoey MP, the former Minister for Sport, warned that sport needed to hone its lobbying skills as it is losing out to the Arts. She added 'We must remind people of the social benefits of sport and the true volunteers who are involved'.

Sport as a Charitable Objective was held on 1st December 2003 at Westminster Boating Base. The conference, chaired by David Elleray, also heard Richard Baldwin, a tax consultant with Deloitte & Touche, give important advice on the merits of sports clubs registering as charities or applying for tax relief. There were presentations on sports projects where exciting ideas had become reality. Sports East, a partnership between Harrow School and Harrow High School, showed how the independent and state sectors can work together and both benefit. There were also presentations from Grant Aitken of the West London Sports Trust and Ric Taylor from London Towers Basketball Club schools programme.

Professor Ken Goulding of Middlesex University's reminder that sport has a key role to play in education and health as well as crime reduction and prevention underpinned the presentations.

The Conference Chairman, David Elleray, commented 'Anyone hearing today's presentations and discussion would have been left in no doubt that the role sports play in the physical and emotional life of the country marks it out as suitable for charitable status at the local level. We will go away from this conference with new ideas and embryonic initiatives. But we must never forget that sport is about having fun and it is about individuals: participants and, just as important, coaches, mentors and volunteers.'