NSPG responds to Active Lives Adult Survey results

Active Lives 2023-2024: Sport, recreation and physical activity sector challenges Government to match ambition and demand

The National Sector Partners Group (NSPG) has issued the following response to the Active Lives Adult Survey from Sport England, published today (24 April)

The latest Active Lives Adult Survey shows a continued and steady increase in physical activity levels across the country and is a further reminder of the essential role the sport, recreation and physical activity sector plays in supporting the nation’s physical activity levels. However, despite the headline numbers, much more needs to be done to ensure more people can reap the benefits of engaging in physical activity and ensuring our sector can play its fullest role in driving this uptake.

As evidenced by the National Sector Partners Group (NSPG), the UK is currently 11th out of 15 comparable European nations for activity levels, and small increases such as this are not enough to make the UK the most active nation in Europe, with all the associated health and economic benefits that this would bring.

Our sector is responsible for generating £107.2bn in social value in England each year, including £10.5bn in secondary value by reducing cases of disease and relieving the huge pressure on health and social care every year. Studies show that physical activity helps to prevent 20 chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, many types of cancer, MSK conditions, depression and anxiety, and dementia.

However, the new findings show that significant inequalities remain in physical activity levels across demographics, and an alarming decrease among younger people aged 16 to 34. It is clear the current policy approach is failing to deliver meaningful increases in physical activity.

The outcome of the Government’s upcoming Spending Review, due to be announced in June, is pivotal to ensure the sport, recreation and physical activity sector can drive up these levels and provides the Government with an opportunity to demonstrate the value it places on the nation’s health and wellbeing and reducing the pressure on the NHS

The NSPG remains committed to working at pace with this Government to ensure it delivers an ambitious and practical strategy for increasing physical activity levels among people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, for the sake of the nation’s health, wellbeing and economic growth

In response to the results from the Active Lives Adult Survey, Andy Taylor, CEO of the Active Partnerships National Organisation, said:

“It is positive news that the number of physically active adults is now the highest on record. In recent years, the Uniting the Movement strategy has really galvanised the sport and physical activity sector, with everyone, including the Active Partnerships network, focused on transforming communities through sport and physical activity and supporting more people to live active lives.

“However, we know that stubborn and significant inequalities still exist, with a person’s age, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic group, the place where they live, and whether they have a disability or long-term health condition all impacting on how physically active they are. Our network, alongside local and national partners, including those who are also members of the NSPG, will continue to work with communities to tackle these inequalities, to help people move more.

“This is vital work because we know that people who are more active live happier and healthier lives, with benefits for both their physical and mental health. But the positive impact of physical activity doesn’t just benefit individuals, it also benefits the country, as economic growth is intrinsically linked to the health and activity levels of the nation.

“Movement, physical activity and sport boosts our health and economic growth, as preventing and helping to manage illness reduces pressure on the NHS and a more active population, leads to a more productive workforce, so it is crucial that the sport and physical activity sector is effectively supported and properly funded.”

To see the full results from the Active Lives Adult Survey, take a look at the Sport England website. To understand more about the context for the 2023-2024 survey results, you can also download the State of the Nation report.

About the National Sector Partners Group

*The NSPG is formed of:
Active Partnerships Network
The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA)
The Sport for Development Coalition
The Sport and Recreation Alliance
ukactive
The Youth Sport Trust.

Through our collaborative work as sector partners, we aim to engage decision makers to improve the operating landscape for the sector and embed sport, recreation and physical activity as a key contributor to wider public policy objectives.