Every £1 spent on community sport and physical activity generates nearly £4 for the English economy and society.
The findings, which are revealed in a new report by the Sport Industry Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University, show that investment creates a return across health and social care, improves wellbeing, builds stronger communities and develops skills in the economy.
The report, which we commissioned, shows that investing in community sport and physical activity plays an important role in boosting the economy and provides the opportunity to help level up inequalities within communities, and build a healthier, happier and more prosperous society generating £3.91 in value for every £1 spent.
The findings also reveal that community sport and physical activity brings an annual contribution of £85.5 billion to the country (in 2018 prices) through social and economic benefits.
Its social value – including physical and mental health, wellbeing, individual and community development – is more than £72 billion, provided via routes such as a healthier population, consumer expenditure, greater work productivity, improved education attainment, reduced crime and stronger communities.
It also generates more than £13bn in economic value through the sports-related goods and services we consume as a nation.
The economic value includes more than 285,000 jobs that employ people within the community sport and physical activity sector.
Tim Hollingsworth, our chief executive, said the report proves that investing in being active helps make us all happier and healthier, can create opportunities and brings communities together.
“Today more than ever community sport and activity has a vital role to play in offering a solution to some of society’s biggest problems like our health, both mental and physical, helping to make life fairer for everyone, and growing and improving our economy,” he added.
“Everyone has a responsibility to keep our nation active. This new research provides evidence that can help local authorities, businesses and the voluntary sector to understand the value of promoting activity, especially as it will play an important part in helping the national to recover from the challenges 2020 has brought.”
