Sport @ Parliament

Sport has been one of my main policy interests over my ten years in Parliament. As well as being a mad keen sportsman I have also used my energy and enthusiasm for sport to drive the public agenda on this issue. Unfortunately as a player I am now reduced to simply playing club rugby most weekends of the season, visiting the gym during the week and, as you can see from news stories on this site, participating in occasional sporting charity matches. When I was younger and before I became an MP I also regularly played volleyball and tennis as well as simply running.
However, I remain passionate about supporting sport and do all I can to promote its importance in Parliament. A few details are provided below of my involvement with sport while I’ve been an MP. I have also been involved in successful lobbying on Community Amateur Sports Clubs, having introduced the original ten minute rule bill on CASCs, school sport, Government backing for the Olympic project and most recently in the Treasury on the funding boost for elite athletes.

It is in this context and that of leadership change that I feel it is the right time for sport to deliver a challenge to the Government. The full sporting challenge and my policy suggestions can be downloaded by clicking the link below.

Andy Reed

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Sports Fellowship

I was awarded a Sports fellowship by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Mr Martin. In a ceremony held by he Speaker I was one of only a handful of MPs to complete the first year of the scheme.

The purpose of the scheme is to allow MPs to work in the real world of sports administration and for sports administrators to wee how parliament works. I have spent the last year working with the RFU and Premier rugby. I couldn't have picked a more exciting time to be involved in rugby than the last 12 months - a war between the RFU and Premier rugby - the sacking of a coach and the build up to a world cup. I have learnt a great deal about top level sport from the inside and that is invaluable. I aim to join other schemes working with industry and the police in future to learn similar skills in other fields.

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Community and 'Grass-roots' Sport

Sport at the community level is vital for tackling obesity, building closer communities and providing fun opportunities for people of all age to participate. There is so much variety and I am sure there is a sport for everyone!

I spend a substantial portion of my time lobbying on behalf of grassroots sport and particularly for the volunteers who make community-level sport a reality. There are about 1.5 million volunteers in sport in this country, in fact volunteers in sport make up 26% of all volunteering in the UK.

25% of all UK
volunteering is
in sport

I continue to play many different sports, my passion being rugby. I play with Birstal RFC. I also play on the parliamentary rugby, football and cricket teams.

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Chair of Leiecstershire County Sports Partnership Board

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Where I've been involved both nationally and locally - My Sports CV!

1982–Present - President and Player at Birstall RFC Leicestershire
1999-2001 PPS to Kate Hoey MP as Sports Minister
2000-2003 Chair - East Midlands Regional Sports Board
2004-Present Chair - Leicestershire County Sports Partnership Board
2004-Present Chair - Sports Caucus in Parliament
2005-2006 Sports Fellowship - RFU/Premier Rugby (2007) British Olympic Association (2008)
2006- Present Chair - Sports Strategic Partnership for Volunteering in Sport
2006-Present - Adviser to Sports Minister on Rugby Union
2004 - Present - Honorary Life Member of CCPR for contribution to Community Sport
External Advisory body at Loughborough University
Vice Chair of the All Party Sport Group and member of the All Party Groups on athletics, rugby union, football, cricket, tennis, hockey, and rowing
2008-09 Board Member - Special Olympics Leicester 2009
2008-09 Manifesto on Sport for the Prime Minister.

Player (present) Birstall RFC & HoC Rugby; All party football team; captain HoC swimming team; HoC Hockey Team; HoC Tennis team; HoC Cricket Team ; Politicians Rugby League Team;

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Special Olympics - Leicester 2009

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Other Bodies I work with

I have been asked to be the Leicestershire 2012 Champion. This means selling 2012 in Leiecstershire to sport, tourism, culture and business and lobbying LOCOG 2012 to put Leicestershire at the heart of the Olympics.

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