Active Partnerships CEOs join Sports Minister at NSPG reception

CEOs and other representatives from across the Active Partnerships network attended a parliamentary reception earlier this week, to highlight the need to unlock the potential of the sport and physical activity sector and create a more active nation.

MPs from across parliament came to the event and heard from Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock MP and Kim Leadbeater MP. Both spoke about how physical activity can be part of the solution to key issues that the country and government is facing.

Representatives from the Active Partnerships network attended an NSPG reception in parliament. Photo credit: Alick Cotterill.

The Minister for Sport said: “We are committed to rebuilding the foundations of our country, and I am going to ensure that sport and physical activity is at the heart of that. Now the Government’s focus is on its five manifesto missions. These include improving public health and building an NHS Fit for the future and breaking down the barriers across our society. Sport and physical activity is central to preventative health, and the biggest health gain comes from supporting those who are inactive to move more.

“Now, As you all know, physical activity interventions contribute an immense saving to the NHS by preventing 900,000 cases of diabetes and 93,000 cases of dementia every year, I am committed to working with the Department of Health and Social Care to champion the role of physical activity in preventative health and ensure it is a key part of the Government’s health mission.

“The sport and physical activity sector is an essential ingredient to drive forward the system change needed to embed sport and physical activity in the health system and deliver meaningful impact across the country. Our collective challenge is to address deep rooted inequalities, to reduce the disparities in participation.”

The National Sector Partners Group (NSPG) event, which is part of the #TakeTheLead campaign, was organised to reinforce to parliamentarians the important role that the sector can play and the enormous benefits that could be unlocked, if the nation was more active. Representatives from across the Active Partnerships network, along with sector colleagues discussed opportunities and priorities with MPs from across the country, highlighting the work of the network in tackling the ongoing inequalities and helping to make active lives the norm for everyone.

These benefits include relieving pressure on the NHS, boosting productivity and economic growth, reducing crime and anti-social behaviour, helping to tackle climate change and improving the physical and mental health of children and young people.

The NSPG has also called on the Government to ensure that making the nation more active is a priority that is embedded across Whitehall and has offered support to help drive change and to create a healthier and happier nation and representatives were reassured that there is a commitment to this approach following the Minister’s speech and the conversations that took place across the event.

Andy Taylor, CEO of the Active Partnerships National Organisation, attended the event and said: “It was fantastic to meet with MPs today to highlight the importance of the sport and physical activity sector, how we can help the government to deliver on key agenda items, and the specific role that the Active Partnerships network can continue to play in tackling the inequalities and disparities that currently exist when it comes to helping everyone to move more.

“It was also a great to come together with other leaders in the sector, to continue building relationships as we all work towards our common goal of creating a healthier and more active nation.”

The NSPG is made up of seven partners: Active Partnerships, the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), the Local Government Association (LGA), the Sport and Recreation Alliance, the Sport for Development Coalition, ukactive, and the Youth Sport Trust.