The Council promoted the importance of providing choice and opportunity for participation in a wide range of leisure activities. The Council was formed by the merger of the Youth Committee and the National Fitness Council. The Youth Community Recreation and National Fitness Act was repealed by the Youth Sport and Recreation Act 1978, and the Council (Youth, Community Recreation and National Fitness Council) was abolished as from 1 January 1979. The activities were taken over by the Department for Youth Sport and Recreation.

In 1978 the Community Recreation Council became the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation. Its objectives were to encourage participation in recreation, assist in provision of recreational facilities and sponsor and promote programmes for leaders, coaches etc, and to facilitate cooperation between government and non-government organisations. The Department's other objectives were to provide a service to youth and youth-related organisations providing a community development programme for young people and their families, assist in development of voluntary youth agencies, assist in cooperation of government and non-government agencies to improve communication with young people, parents, etc. In 1983 the Youth Task Force recommended the formation of the Youth Affairs Bureau which came into being in 1985 and consequently the Department became athe Department for Sport and Recreation.