Constraining capacity: understanding the impact of austerity on Third Sector Sport Organisations

Abstract

Third Sector Sports Organisations (TSSOs) play an increasingly important role in England’s sport and physical activity landscape, particularly in delivering community-based programmes that contribute to a range of social outcomes. Operating within a context of prolonged austerity, these organisations face growing pressures to demonstrate impact, align with strategic priorities and sustain delivery. Understanding their organisational capacity – defined as an organisation’s ability to mobilise resources across human, financial, relational, infrastructural and strategic domains (Hall et al., 2003) – is therefore critical. Drawing on a sequential mixed methods design, including survey data (n=114) and semi-structured interviews across seven organisations (n=16), the study explores how capacity is mobilised and constrained in response to external pressures, using Hall et al.’s (2003) multidimensional framework. Findings highlight significant challenges across multiple capacity dimensions, with financial precarity, volunteer recruitment and limited strategic planning emerging as key constraints. The analysis also demonstrates the interdependence of capacity domains and the role of collaboration in mitigating resource limitations. The findings underscore the limitations of short-term, outcome-based funding models and highlight the need for more sustainable and flexible support mechanisms, contributing to debates on the viability of long-term third sector sport provision.