Uniting the Movement, our ten-year strategy, has one aim at its heart: deliver the life-changing benefits of sport and physical activity to everyone – regardless of background, bank balance or postcode – through a ruthless focus on tackling inequalities.
This aligns with the government’s aim to break down barriers to opportunity and it was great to see the focus announced by the new Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, as she looks beyond Westminster for progress and change. As she said last week, too often ‘geography is destiny’.
It’s all about the Place
A devolved, community-focused and collaborative approach – our Place-based partnerships – is the framework that we’re delivering through Uniting the Movement.
Where a person lives and the environment around them has a huge impact on how likely they are to be active. For example, people in low-income communities don’t have access to the same facilities or opportunities as wealthier areas.
We spent the past five years piloting ‘Place-based partnerships’ in 12 areas. And it worked, with inactivity levels reducing at a faster rate than other comparable areas, so we have radically focused our wider approach to laser-focus on helping communities that need the most support.
We are expanding into 80 to 100 new places, spending a quarter of our annual budget on this approach and working hand-in-hand with local partners who truly understand what people in their postcode need to overcome barriers to activity. I invite you to listen to our Place Changemakers podcast series to learn more.
Our network of Active Partnerships will have a critical role working with mayors and local government too - and stand ready to help deliver change from the ground and grassroots up.
Wealth through health
Sport and activity must also be the beating heart of the government’s focus on preventative health measures as both help build an NHS fit for the future and kickstart economic growth.
We build wealth through health as every £1 invested in sport and activity generates nearly £4 in economic and social returns. Prevention is better than cure is a cliché for a reason: because it’s true.
If we can make getting active a normal and everyday part of life for us all – walking to school and work (active travel); affordable local sports clubs in every postcode; planning systems that enshrine space to get active into new developments and prioritising school sports, we’ll save the NHS billions and we’ll be a happier, more resilient and more connected nation as a result.
And as we’re updating our value of sport research, ready to be launched in the coming weeks, I look forward to seeing fresh insight on the incredible social impacts and savings that sport and activity generate and working with the government and our partners to turn the research into reality.
The five Government Missions
Sport can play a role in all five of the new government’s stated missions.
The entire sport and physical activity sector – the grassroots sports clubs, gyms and leisure centres, the swimming pools, national governing bodies, the community instructors – can line up behind them.
Collectively we help save lives, boost mental health, create opportunity and grow the economy.
Our role cannot be underestimated as we are a pivotal part of building a country where people live happier, healthier and more fulfilled lives.
Sport England looks forward to working alongside you all, in partnership with our new government to go further, faster and to make everyone’s lives better through playing sport and being active.
