press release: ukactive
Leading bodies for health, sport, recreation, fitness and leisure urge party leaders to commit to making UK most active nation in Europe
13 Jun 2024
The letter kickstarts a new campaign called #TakeTheLead, which will showcase the importance of creating a more active nation / Shuttertstock.com / PeopleImages.com - Yuri A
As the main parties announce their manifestos and the men’s Euros comes into focus this week, a survey* of British adults asked where they think the UK ranks in Europe’s league table for physical activity. Three-quarters (75%) guessed it would feature in the top 10, but the reality is the UK is a miserable joint-11th among 15 comparable nations.
The call for change is driven by the Active Partnerships network, the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity, the Sport and Recreation Alliance, the Sport for Development Coalition, ukactive and the Youth Sport Trust, which together represent thousands of organisations, gyms, swimming pools, leisure centres, sports governing bodies, and professionals across the UK.
The letter kickstarts a new campaign launched by the organisations today (13 June) called #TakeTheLead, which will showcase the importance of creating a more active nation and, crucially, highlight the need for leadership by our national politicians to create the conditions for change.
The 226 signatories to the letter range from major health bodies to sport’s national governing bodies, education providers and the nation’s biggest fitness and leisure groups, while stars such as Rebecca Adlington, Ugo Monye, Adam Olaore and Darcey Bussell have also added their support.
The letter outlines the urgent need as well as the “unique opportunity” for any new Government to unlock the full potential of the sport, recreation and physical activity sector, in a move that would be “transformative for communities across the UK”.
It says: “To overcome our national health crisis and deliver economic growth, we believe you must commit to the ambition of making the UK the most active nation in Europe and work with the industry to deliver this vision.”
Collectively, the sector already saves the NHS £9.5bn every year by preventing illness and in total generates £85bn annually in economic and social value. However, the value generated by the sector could be far greater if the UK reaches and exceeds the activity levels of its European peers, according to research by the Sport and Recreation Alliance.
If the UK became the most active nation in Europe, the research projects:
- Economic growth – by increasing GDP by £3.6bn every year
- Reduced burden on the NHS – by cutting spending on preventable disease by £1bn every year
- An improvement in people’s life satisfaction – by increasing wellbeing benefits to the value of £71bn
every year.
The letter highlights priorities for the party leaders to focus on to reduce growing inequalities across the UK and drive significant change in activity levels, such as ensuring every child is active for at least 60 minutes every day, cutting red tape holding back growth, and embedding physical activity pathways into health and care systems.
Sport, recreation, and physical activity bind communities together across all ages, abilities and backgrounds and make the population healthier, happier, more productive and more prosperous.
Making the UK the most active nation would help to reduce pressure off the NHS, boost productivity and economic growth by helping more people to stay in work, improve physical and mental health from childhood, support the drive to net zero, and create more connected, inclusive communities.
Rebecca Adlington OBE said: “It’s time for our political leaders to take the lead and be much bolder in their ambitions for sport and physical activity in the UK.
“It’s going to be a great summer for sport but it’s about more than inspiring the next generation of athletes, it’s about how physical activity can help fix our health cRisis and improve so many lives.
“I want us to be top of podium as the most active nation in Europe and that starts with the next Government having a full plan to help us reach millions more people of all ages and backgrounds.”
Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive, said: “The timing of the General Election and our summer of sport mean our political leaders have a golden opportunity to prioritise getting more people active to transform our nation’s wellbeing, boost economic productivity and save our NHS.
“The rewards are clear but we are yet to see the political will or strategy to reduce our growing inequalities, with those from disadvantaged backgrounds, women and girls, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities missing out on physical activity.
“Our nation’s gyms, pools, leisure centres and sports clubs are ready to do so much more, so we urge our party leaders to work with us and show their commitment to make the UK the most active nation in Europe.”
Read the full letter here.
National Sector Partners Group:
Active Partnerships
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
The signatories:
Abbeycroft Leisure
Access Sport
Action Group PR
Active IQ
Active Luton
Active Pregnancy Foundation
Activity Alliance
Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice
Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre
Airius
Alliance Leisure
Angling Trust
Anytime Fitness
Archery GB
Arthritis Action
Asian Sports Foundation
Association for Physical Education
Association of Colleges Sport
Asthma + Lung UK
BaseballSoftballUK
Basketball England
BH Live
Bigwave Marketing
Boccia England
Bolton Arena
Bowls Development Alliance
Bowls England
Brio Leisure – Cheshire West & Chester Leisure CIC
British American Football
British Association of Sport Rehabilitators
British Cycling
British Equestrian Federation
British Fencing
British Gliding Association
British Gymnastics
British Horseracing Authority
British Horse Society
British Judo
British Mountaineering Council
British Nordic Walking
British Obstacle Sports
British Orienteering
British Para Table Tennis
British Rowing
British Shooting
British Society of Lifestyle Medicine
British Sub-Aqua Club
British Taekwondo
British Universities & Colleges Sport
British Weightlifting
British Wheelchair Basketball
British Wrestling
Bury Leisure
Business for Health
Canoe Camping Club
Club Kingswood
Coach Core
Code Fitness
CSSC Sports and Leisure
David Lloyd Clubs
DDMix
Dyaco
Edinburgh Leisure
England Touch
England and Wales Cricket Board
EGYM
EMD UK
Endurance GB
England and Wales Cricket Board
England Athletics
England Hockey
England Lacrosse
England Netball
England Squash
English Amateur Dancesport Association
English Indoor Bowling Association
EuropeActive
Everybody Health & Leisure
Everyone Active
Faculty of Sports & Exercise Medicine
Fearless Women
Fit Hire Limited
Fitmedia
Fitness First
Focus Awards
Foundry
Freedom Leisure
FTC Gym
Future Fit Training
GB Boxing
GB Snow Sports
GB Wheelchair Rugby
Gladstone
GLL
GM Active
Goalball UK
Good Boost
Gravesham Community Leisure
Greenhouse Sports
GymBox
Haringey Sports Development Trust
Horsescotland
Hurlingham Polo
Hutchison Technologies Ltd
Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
InBody UK
Independent Gyms
IndigoFitness Ltd
Intelligent Health
Inverclyde Leisure Trust
Junior Adventure Group
Keep Fit Association
Kew Green Group Limited
Kickboxing GB
Laban Guild International
Lampton Leisure Limited
Language of Dance Trust
Later Life Training
Lawn Tennis Association (LTA)
Leeds City Council – Sport
Leisure Energy
Leisure Labs
Les Mills Fitness UK Limited
Life Fitness
Life Leisure
Lifestyle Fitness
London Sport
Love Recruitment
Matrix
MAVERICKS Life Co
Merrithew
Miha Bodytec GmbH
Mind
Mosaic Group
Movember
Move it or Lose it
Move Technologies
Muslim Sports Foundation
Mytime Active
Myzone
National Association of Teachers of Dancing
National Centre for Sports & Exercise Medicine – Sheffield
National Indoor Climbing Award Schemes
National Orthopaedic Alliance
National Trails
NextGen EHS
Northern Counties Dance Teachers Association
Nuffield Health
Oldham Active
Oldham Community Leisure
On The Mend
Orbit4
Orthopaedic Research UK
Outdoor Industry Association
Paddle UK
Parkour UK
Parkwood Leisure
Pendle Leisure Trust
Places Leisure
Play England
PlayInnovation
Plymouth Active Leisure
Pozzoni Architecture Ltd
Precor Fitness Limited
Proinsight
PureGym
Quartz Sequoia Events Ltd (Elevate)
Quikswitch
Quoox
Right Directions (Management) Ltd
Rounders England
Royal Society for Public Health
Royal Yachting Association
Rugby Football League (RFL)
Rugby Football Union (RFU)
Sandwell Leisure
SCL Education Group
Sense
Shapemaster Global (Innerva)
Skateboard GB
Special Olympics GB
Sport for Confidence
Sport 4 Life UK
Sport in Mind
Swimming Teachers Association (STA)
Strategic Leisure
StreetGames
Surfing England
Swim England
Swimming Teachers Association
Table Tennis England
Technogym UK Ltd
The Adult Cerebral Palsy Movement
The Grounds Management Association
The Gym Group
The Ramblers
The Taskforce for Lung Heath
Thomas Pocklington Trust
Total Fitness
Trafford Leisure
Trail Riders Fellowship
Trilogy Leisure
Versus Arthritis
Volleyball England
Women in Sport
Wythenshawe Forum
Xplor
Zoom Media
3 1 5 Fitness
3D Leisure
4GLOBAL
Rebecca Adlington OBE
Morgan Bolding
Dame Darcey Bussell DBE
Jacob Dawson
Thomas Digby
Charlie Elwes
Dr Dale Esliger
Rory Gibbs
Professor Ben Kelly
Professor Rosie Meek
Dr Hayley Mills
Ugo Monye
Adam Olaore
Professor Greg Whyte OBE
Amy Williams MBE
*The consumer poll was carried out by Savanta in June 2024 and polled 2,732 people.
More press releases and updates from ukactive:
As the General Election reaches its conclusion, polling from Savanta commissioned by
ukactive, reveals the nation’s priorities when it comes to health, physical activity and
wellbeing.
As we enter the final stretch of the 2024 General Election, the latest polls show little has
really changed since the starting gun was fired on 22 May, with Labour still holding a clear
lead and predictions growing of a landslide. Despite this, there have been plenty of
warnings of the dangers of complacency at this stage.
Scotland is the only nation in the UK where a larger proportion of adults admit they are
less physically active than they were five years ago, according to a survey from ukactive.
And so the battle lines are drawn. After a few weeks of trading blows based on what each
party may or may not offer on 4 July, with manifestos published all has been revealed.
The election campaign has intensified this week, with the first of the TV debates between
the two primary candidates for Prime Minister crystalising the positions of both parties as
we head into the middle of the campaign.
ukactive: news from HCMmag.com and FitTechGlobal.com
More than 200 organisations and athletes in the UK have signed an open letter
to party leaders to commit to making the nation the most active in Europe
after next month’s General Election.
Improving physical strength and fitness, mental health and confidence are the main reasons
for joining a health club, while cost, time and motivation are the main reasons for leaving.
UK Active has announced details of its annual health and fitness industry awards ceremony,
which will take place in Birmingham on the evening of Thursday 3 October at the International
Convention Centre.
The first annual Private Sector Benchmarking report was released today (27 March). A
collaboration between UK Active and 4Global, the aim of the research is to provide accurate
insight into the state of UK-based private sector health clubs.
In a soft power exercise, politicians in the UK have been invited to take part in a challenge
which encourages them to be more active, while raising awareness of the benefits of physical
activity.
ukactive: featured in HCM and Fit Tech magazines
Insight: All welcome
As more trans women, trans men
and non-binary people join health
clubs, it’s time to work out a system
where everyone feels included,
protected and safe in the locker
room. Kath Hudson reports
Life lessons: Huw Edwards
Remember when there was mass hostility about London hosting the 2012 Olympics? Huw Edwards, CEO of UK Active, was there. He talks to Kath Hudson about the lessons he learned
Consumer expectations are rising all the time, but nowhere more than in relation to digital. UK Active’s Dave Gerrish explains how the industry is shaping up
Opinion: Here comes the future
Kath Hudson talks
to industry experts
from around the
world about their key
takeaways from last year
and their hopes for 2024
Industry insights: Predictions
Time are tough but tough times bring out the best in us.
Kath Hudson asks some of the world’s top industry
experts where they see the glimpses of blue sky
Life lessons: Dave Courteen
The author, industry veteran,
UK Active board member and
founder and CEO of Mosaic Spa
and Health Clubs talks to Kath
Hudson about the challenges of
operating a high-end club when
low-cost came on the scene
ukactive
Tel: 020 8158 9700
Email: [email protected]
Address:
The Bloomsbury Building,
10 Bloomsbury Way,
London,
WC1A 2SL,
United Kingdom
Huw Edwards, CEO
ukactive video gallery:
Key personnel
Mike Farrar, Chair
Huw Edwards, CEO
Steven Scales, Director of Membership and Sector Development
Jack Shakespeare, Director of Research, Policy and Communications
Huw Edwards, CEO
Steven Scales, Director of Membership and Sector Development
Jack Shakespeare, Director of Research, Policy and Communications
Key customers
Gyms, health clubs, leisure centres, fitness studios, swimming pools, sports bodies, activity providers, equipment suppliers, technology suppliers, health bodies, education bodies, health charities, consumer fitness brands
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