Sport and Physical Activity must be used to level up and tackle inequalities

21/10/2021

An article wirtten by Sport England focusing on their Active Lives Adult Survey highlights where and how resources should be focused, and that getting active can play a role in boosting the nation’s fitness, wellbeing, and economic recovery from coronavirus.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on activity levels throughout England, but has been most acute across disadvantaged groups and areas of high deprivation.

While there are signs of recovery for activity levels as restrictions have eased, not all groups or demographics are affected or recovering at the same rate. Existing inequalities have been widened, with some groups hit much harder by the pandemic than others. This is the case for women, young people aged 16-34, over 75s, disabled people and people with long-term health conditions, and those from Black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds. Those living in deprived areas and also those in urban areas found it harder to be active.

We know that getting active can play a role in boosting the nation’s physical health and their mental wellbeing – the most active people in England have the highest levels of mental wellbeing. This is important since overall levels of happiness have declined across the population during the pandemic, with loneliness and anxiety rising.

Sport and physical activity has a role to play in supporting economic recovery from the pandemic too. Existing research already shows that for every £1 spent on sport and physical activity, nearly £4 is generated for the English economy and society. Therefore, sport and physical activity can support the goal of levelling up communities and supporting the most disadvantaged people in society.

Click HERE to read the full article and for further findings.