Mayors join our Board as advisors to strengthen local voices

Two regional mayors are joining our Board as advisors, strengthening the connection between local leadership and our work to help more people get active.

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, and Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, will bring their experience of leading places and understanding of local communities to our national discussions.

We’ve invited them to help shape our thinking on how sport and physical activity can improve lives, tackle inequalities and build stronger communities.

Our chair, Chris Boardman, said their arrival marks an important step in how we work.

"I’m delighted to welcome David and Helen as advisors to the Sport England Board. This is more than two new appointments. It’s an important step in how we work," he explained.

"Sport England has long championed place-based working. Now we’re taking that principle further, bringing two leading Mayors directly into our national thinking.

"This is devolution in action, with regional leaders helping shape national priorities and ensuring more communities benefit from the power of sport.

"Sport has a remarkable ability to bring people together across social divides, creating connections and strengthening communities.

"That makes it a powerful tool for local leaders who want to improve the places they represent."

David welcomed the opportunity to bring the experiences of York and North Yorkshire to those conversations, while championing the contribution of regions across the country.

He said: "Mayors are at the centre of driving the change in their regions, so I'm delighted to take on this role and make sure that their voice is heard at the top level of Sport England.

"Here in York and North Yorkshire, we've seen how investment in sport, physical activity and active lifestyles can improve health and strengthen communities.

"I'll be proud to bring those experiences to the table while helping ensure all regions have a strong voice in shaping national priorities."

Headshots of David Skaith and Helen Godwin

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, added: "As mayors take on more powers to deliver for our communities, I’m excited to be working with Sport England to help champion the transformative power of sport and investment in places for people to play.

"By working with clubs and charities from across the West of England, including as a former trustee of Bristol Rovers Community Trust, I know first-hand how sport can inspire and change lives.

"From encouraging healthier and more active lifestyles to building confidence and self-esteem, sport can be an amazing thing for people of all ages and abilities - as the football team that I set up found!"

Working with places is central to Uniting the Movement, our strategy to tackle inactivity and inequalities.

Through our Place Partnerships, we work alongside communities, Active Partnerships and other local organisations to understand the barriers people face and support solutions shaped by local needs and knowledge.

We’re already investing up to £250 million of National Lottery and government funding in more than 90 places across England, working alongside local partners to help communities facing the greatest inequalities lead more active lives.

We’re building on this approach through increasingly locally led investment, giving communities greater influence over priorities and how funding is used, supported by our national evidence, expertise and accountability.

Our focus remains on the people and places facing the greatest inequalities.

David and Helen’s advisory roles will support this direction by bringing regional experience directly into our national discussions.

More from Chris and David

Sport England chair, Chris Boardman, speaking to camera outside on a grass bank in front of an old Tudor building.

Uniting the Movement, Sport England strategy, was essentially devolution before it became fashionable.

Putting the power in the heart of communities so they decided what they needed, and enabling them has been what Sport England is all about.

Now we're going to take it even further. We have David Skaith and Helen Godwin, Metro Mayors across a big chunk of the country are going to sit with our board as advisors and help make sure that national policy and local strategies join up.

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, speaking to camera outside, in front of an old stone archway.

I'm delighted to be joining the Sport England Board as an advisor, representing Metro Mayors from across the country.

Sport has the power to transform lives.

It improves our physical and mental health, strengthens our communities, created opportunities for young people and helps tackle inequalities that still affect many places.

As Mayor of York and North Yorkshite I have seen firsthand the difference that investing in physical activity, in grassroots sports and active lifestyles can make.

Whether it's supporting community clubs, helping young people get active or making it easier for people to build movement into their everyday lives.

These are investments that deliver real benefits for residents and communities.

This role is an opportunity to ensure that voices of our regions and local communities are heard at the national level and as Mayors we're uniquely placed to connect national ambition with local delivery - bringing together partners acros health, education, transport, business and local government to help people lead healthier, more active lives.

I'm really looking forward to working with Sport England, my fellow Mayor Helen Godwin and partners across the country to help create more opportunities for everyone, regardless of where they live or their background, to enjoy the real benefits of sport and physical activity.

I'll be proud to bring the experience and ambitions that we have here in York and North Yorkshire to the table, while helping shape a national approach that supports thriving, healthy communities right across England.

Mayors join our Board as advisors to strengthen local voices

More from Chris and David

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