The organisational performance of national disability sport organisations during a time of austerity: a resource dependence theory perspective

ABSTRACT

Austerity measures implemented by the UK Coalition government have had a negative impact on disabled people. This article utilises the resource dependence theory to explore the challenges national disability sport organisations (NDSOs) have faced in their attempts to achieve growth, whilst discussing some of the tactics used to overcome these challenges. Secondary quantitative data from the 2011–2015 NDSO accounts were analysed, which suggests that increased income has been accompanied by increased cost, with fluctuations between surpluses and deficits across the financial years. Funding from Sport England, the government body for grassroots sport in England, was either awarded for the first time or increased. Nine in-depth interviews were conducted with senior managers from seven NDSOs, the English Federation of Disability Sport, and Sport England. It was found austerity presented challenges for the NDSOs in accessing charitable grants and funding and that some disabled people were fearful of losing their disability benefits if they were seen to be active. The management of relationships with national governing bodies and county sport partnerships was also a challenge. The formation of alliances, the building up of financial reserves and the generation of knowledge have been some of the tactics used by the NDSOs in the management of their resources. This research highlights how some NDSOs have achieved growth amid an uncertain economic backdrop, and how these organisations have managed their scarce resources.

KEYWORDS:

• Austerity
• disability sport
• resource dependency
• national disability sport organisation
• national governing bodies
• Paralympic Games

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. ‘Athletes’ refer to disabled people participating in sport at the grassroots level.

2. There is some variance in the financial year-ends reporting for the NDSOs. The NDSOs did not all have financial accounts publically available to view on the Charity Commission website for the full duration of the Coalition government of 2010–2015.

3. Correct as of March 2016, when the interview with the participant from Sport England took place.

4. This refers to full-time members of staff only. Board members have not been included.

5. Sport England invested approximately £91.5 million into 42 of the 46 NGBs in receipt of 2013–17 whole sport plan funding (Sport England, n.d.).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christopher Brown

Christopher Brown is a PhD student at the University of Kent and his research interests are in disability sport participation and mega-events.

Dr. Athanasios (Sakis) Pappous is currently the Head of School of Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Kent. His research interests focus on the social and psychological aspects of physical activity and health, with a special interest on using sport as an integrative tool to promote inclusion of disadvantaged groups.