Tag: sport

Bishop of Sheffield asks about regional inequalities in sports and extracurricular opportunities

The Bishop of Sheffield received asked a question on tackling regional inequalities on 24th June 2025, during a discussion on access to sporting and extracurricular activities for young people:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield: My Lords, I welcome the Government’s investment of £100 million to upgrade sports facilities and improve access to sport for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. However, noble Lords will be aware of other significant disparities that persist across demographics relating to participation in sport and extracurricular activities. These include disparities relating to race and gender, as well as stubborn socioeconomic and regional inequalities. How do the Government plan to level the playing field regionally to enable the most underrepresented groups to participate more fully in sport?

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Football Governance Bill: Bishop of Sheffield supports amendment on Climate Change Act compliance

On 11th March 2025, the Bishop of Sheffield spoke in support of amendment 13 to the Football Governance Bill which would ensure that football clubs comply with the Climate Change Act 2008:

My Lords, I will speak to Amendment 13, to which I have added my name. I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Jones, for tabling this significant addition to the Bill.

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Football Governance Bill: Bishop of Sheffield welcomes legislation

The Bishop of Sheffield spoke at the second reading of the Football Governance Bill on 13th November 2024, welcoming the legislation and the strengthening of regulation and protections for football governance:

The Lord Bishop of Sheffield: My Lords, I congratulate the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Minister for securing this debate, and thank the previous Government for their efforts to ensure that the sport of football—a national treasure beloved of so many—is more effectively regulated.

I realise that I cannot claim that football was made in Sheffield but, in addition to the codification referred to by the noble Lord, Lord Parkinson, in London in 1863, a second codification of the beautiful game took place in Sheffield in 1867—another early governance document for the sport that was influential for decades across the north. The city is home to the oldest football club in the world, Hallam FC, as well as to the two much better-known professional football clubs, Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday.

As Bishop of Sheffield, it gives me great pleasure to contribute to this important debate. It is a particular privilege to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Grey-Thompson. I want to say, first, something about the relationship between football clubs and their communities; secondly, something about financial stability; and thirdly, something about the responsibility of football clubs in relation to the climate emergency.

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Bishop of Derby asks about sport opportunities for women in prison

The Bishop of Derby received the following written answer on 22nd March 2023:

The Lord Bishop of Derby asked His Majesty’s Government:

  • what steps they have taken to improve the opportunities for sport and physical activity for women and girls in the criminal justice system.
  • what progress they have made in improving the availability of sport and physical activity for women and girls in the criminal justice system; and what plans they have to expand provision.

Lord Bellamy (Con): Encouraging engagement in sport and exercise amongst women and girls in contact with the criminal justice system can have a significant impact on reducing reoffending through both early intervention and diversionary activities, as well as rehabilitation for those sentenced.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about provision of services to rural areas

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 31st January 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to prevent the closure of rural bus routes.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton (Con): The Government has provided nearly £2 billion of support since March 2020 through emergency and recovery grants to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on the bus sector. This includes a six-month extension to the Bus Recovery Grant to provide up to £130 million to continue supporting bus services in England outside London until the end of March of this year.

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Archbishop of York asks about football and cricket

The Archbishop of York asked a question about sports on 31st March 2022:

The Lord Archbishop of York: My Lords, I was not planning to speak, but I thought I might join in some of the fun. I refer the Minister back to her earlier answer in which she referred to football as the “national game”. I wonder whether she would like to confirm that it is the Government’s view that football and not cricket is now the national game, which is a cause of great shock to some of us on these Benches.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about plans for gambling awareness during upcoming UEFA tournament

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 21st June 2021:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked Her Majesty’s Government, further to the announcement that the Belgium Gambling Commission will be running a gambling awareness campaign during this summer’s UEFA European Football Championship, what plans they have to advertise gambling support services during the tournament.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about gambling advertising, rehabilitation, education and football

On 23rd, 25th & 26th November 2020 the Bishop of St Albans received  written answers to questions on gambling advertising, rehabilitation, education and football:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the announcement that Burnley FC are working with the Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust to educate staff and supporters about the risks of gambling, what representations they have made to the Premier League to encourage clubs to adopt similar initiatives. [HL10378] Continue reading “Bishop of St Albans asks about gambling advertising, rehabilitation, education and football”

Bishop of Gloucester asks about Government support for children’s sport

On 1st October 2020 questions in the House of Lords were put to Government on support for professional and amateur sport. The Bishop of Gloucester, Rt Revd Rachel Treweek, asked a question: 

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: My Lords, I was pleased to hear that the Government believes that sports clubs are the beating heart of their communities. As bishops we like to believe that is also true of our church communities, and indeed all communities of faith – and the Church of England is currently investing in pilot projects including my own diocese, focusing on sport and wellbeing underpinned by our Christian faith. Indeed the Bishop of Derby is the lead bishop for sport.

Can the government say what investment will the Government make into local provision for children and young people to engage in sports and physical activity that is shaped by them, given the research of the Children’s Society highlighting the importance not only of chosen physical activity but also of positive time with peers, and the fact that that has all been horribly impacted by Covid-19?

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Bishop of St Albans asks about gambling, bankruptcies and sports sponsorship

On 9th March 2020 the Bishop of St Albans, Rt Revd Alan Smith, received answers to two written questions, about gambling and bankruptcy, and gambling firms sponsoring football shirts

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: HL1785 To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the Insolvency Service’s figures which show gambling to be a feature in 373 bankruptcies last year, an increase from 158 in 2015–16.

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