The Chief Executive of Sport England Roger Draper today announced that staff numbers at Sport England are to be reduced from an original establishment of 570 to around 250 as part of a restructuring which will put more investment directly into sport.

The move is aimed at increasing the proportion of Government and Lottery funding going directly to sport at national and community level. It is anticipated that Sport England’s annual operating costs will be reduced by up to £12 million as a result of the measures.

Sport England’s lottery income has fallen by around £100 million in the past four years from a high of £265 million to an expected total of less than £170 million this year.

The organisation is also re-assessing it’s current projects and priorities to target investment where it will most help achieve the objectives of: increasing participation in sport at every level; retaining people in sport and bringing success to the nation at the highest level.

The impact of the streamlining will be greatest at Sport England’s Euston headquarters where staff numbers are coming down from 330 to around 100, initially through voluntary redundancy. Staff were told of the changes last week with the new structures being subject to further consultation until June.

Roger Draper said: ‘This is a difficult and challenging time for everyone at Sport England but the measures we are taking now are necessary to ensure the future success of sport in England.

‘At national level our investment will be more focussed and less prescriptive through our partners in sport, particularly the National Governing Bodies. At community level more decisions will be made locally by the nine new Regional Sports Boards who will understand local issues.

‘We are taking tough decisions about our organisation now to be in better shape to make a real difference to sport in this country in the future. ‘

For more information please call Sarah Smyth at Sport England’s press office on 020 7273 1590 or Fiona McElroy on 020 7273 1789.