High compliance with new code

Working with UK Sport, we have written to 55 out of the first 58 national bodies for sport to have been involved with the new Code for Sports Governance, confirming that they have met all of its requirements.  

The new Code was made live in April 2017 and contains important changes to the governance of sport, including:  

• Greater transparency, to help fans and those taking part better-understand the decision-making of those leading their sports
• Reforms to board memberships, including at least 25% independent members
• Commitments to greater diversity, including at least 30% of each gender on boards
• Establishing boards as the ultimate decision-making authority within a sport rather than traditional councils
• Tighter term limits for board and council members to ensure a regular renewal of ideas and expertise.  

The 55 compliant organisations range from some of the largest in the country such as the FA to those with more modest resources such as England Handball. They have been involved with one of the most advanced and large-scale governance reforms in the world.  

“This is a very significant achievement for sport as a whole,” says our Chief Executive Jennie Price.  

“Improved standards of governance will benefit the millions of people who play or give their time to sport every week.” 

NEXT STEPS 

We expect the three remaining organisations to achieve full compliance by April 2018, meaning that all 58 will have fully adopted the Code within one year of it having been made live. These 58 will be the early adopters in more than 600 sporting bodies who will all need to comply with the Code in order to be eligible for public funding and support in the future.  

The governing bodies will also have to ensure that they continue to remain compliant with the Code and will be expected to put action plans and commitments into practice, particularly those in relation to diversity. We and UK Sport will continue to work closely together to support and monitor this progress in the months and years ahead.