GIFT AID AND JUNIOR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO COMMUNITY AMATEUR SPORTS CLUBS

That this House welcomes the fact that 4,797 clubs have registered under the Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) scheme, generating more than £41 million for community sport since 2002; recognises the key role that community sport can play in ensuring a legacy of increased participation from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; further recognises that increasing participation in sport will contribute towards improving health, education, social inclusion and community cohesion; notes however that the CASC scheme is currently of most benefit to premises-owning clubs; and calls on the Government to further increase support for community sport by extending Gift Aid to junior membership fees in order that all community sports clubs can benefit from the CASC scheme and extend participation opportunities.