The report, based on in-depth conversations with CLUK members over the summer of 2021, gives a detailed update on the current state of play and what leisure and culture trusts are preparing for in the future, also highlighting differences between England, Scotland and Wales.

It shows that additional financial pressures due to increases in electricity and gas prices, National Insurance contributions, supply chain issues and projected increases in the National Living Wage, combined with depleted reserves and restrictions in income recovery will squeeze budgets in what is already a very fragile financial landscape.

The sector is facing an employment crisis. Trusts are unable to recruit for the number of vacancies available, which can be up to a third of their regular workforce, with government-schemes such as the Kickstart scheme not being effective. Increases in National Minimum and Living Wage are causing further challenges, eroding pay differentials between positions within organisations, and increasing faster than the average salary increases across the organisation.

Trusts are committed to supporting the government in building back better and fairer through their focus on community health and wellbeing. This is their priority with the programmes like social prescribing, exercise referral, and mental health support. Results from the Moving Communities platform clearly evidences that public leisure delivered by trusts generates a significantly higher social value than the national average.

The next six to twelve months will be crucial for the public leisure and culture sector, regardless of delivery model, due to the uncertainty of customer/audience return rates and the limited reserves available to organisations.