ukactive

On 15 October, the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, announced the rollout of GLP-1 to help get people back into work as a measure to address the severest forms of obesity across the UK. ukactive and CIMSPA will work to support the sector as this new approach to weight-loss takes its place in the market. To read the member statement around the three main areas of support that this will focus on, click here: https://lnkd.in/e6MP8pDc

Following the success of our February 2024 conference, we are delighted to return to the QEII Centre for our annual Active Uprising conference on Thursday, 6th March 2025. Join us for a day of learning and networking as we inspire and champion our sector and members with a lineup of motivational speakers who will explore this year's theme, 'No Growth without Health: Physical Activity’s Role in National Renewal. 🎟️ Tickets are available now! #ActiveUprising

ukactive and the National Sector Partners Group responded to yesterday's Budget announcement, acknowledging that, while the Budget aimed to 'fix the foundations', the sport, recreation, and physical activity sector was left absent from the significant role it can play in supporting the economy and the health of the nation. ukactive CEO, Huw Edwards, said: “It is now important that the Government avoids any vacuum of information regarding the role of sport and physical activity, working with ukactive and its members on the precise role our sector must play in supporting economic growth and taking pressure off the NHS.” Read the full response here: https://lnkd.in/eEpGx4Wu Active Partnerships CIMSPA Sport for Development Coalition Sport and Recreation Alliance Youth Sport Trust

Following the publication of Sport England’s social value report last week, The Telegraph covered the findings and ukactive’s response this weekend, highlighting how the Government can maximise the value generated by sport and physical activity and the long-term savings it can bring. In the article, ukactive CEO, Huw Edwards, discusses the Government’s recent investment in GLP-1 and notes how exercise should be prioritised as part of efforts to prevent Britain’s health decline. He said: “Previous governments have taken a short-term focus, and it is about time prevention is viewed as the cure. “The Government knows investment in weight-loss drugs is not the panacea. Now it must show us what plans it has to deliver a full prevention strategy that includes policies for physical activity and diet too.” Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ednmcr6m

If physical activity is the lifeblood of health in this country, our facilities and green and blue spaces are the bones on which our health is built. Across the country, gyms, pools, leisure centres, community sports grounds, rivers, parks, and school sport facilities are essential in providing safe spaces for people of all ages and backgrounds to be physically active. The health of our nation depends on these facilities and spaces thriving, and that they can be accessible places within and for communities. Sport England’s recent Social Value report found sport, recreation and physical activity had a yearly social value of £107.2 billion. This includes £96.7 billion in annual wellbeing value, as well as a further £10.5 billion in wider savings to the health and social care system a year. However, recent years have presented a series of challenges to the maintenance of and access to our facilities and these spaces. Amongst other things, Covid, energy crises, and reduced budgets (especially at local Government level) have depleted reserves and placed many facilities and spaces in a difficult position. Through backing facilities on the high streets through business rate reform, providing long-term security for and investment in public leisure and sports equipment or venues, and protecting and enhancing the quality and accessibility of community facilities, our green and blue spaces, and all places that support physical activity levels, this Budget presents an opportunity to back the sector’s ability to deliver on the Government’s priorities. The Government can send a clear signal that it is unlocking the potential of sport, recreation and physical activity to boost growth, productivity and create a healthier nation. By securing the long-term future of our facilities and spaces we can increase physical activity levels, ensure future generations are able to be active, and can make sure that the social value of sport and physical activity continues for decades to come. Active Partnerships CIMSPA Sport for Development Coalition Sport and Recreation Alliance Youth Sport Trust

Last week, Sport England released its report, ‘Social value of sport and physical activity for England’ that showed that the social value generated by sport and physical activity is £107.2 billion a year with £10.5bn in wider savings made to the health and social care system a year. Responding to the report’s findings and the recent announcement from the Government around its investment in GLP-1, ukactive CEO Huw Edwards writes in this blog about the opportunity the Government has to tackle the health crisis and keep the nation active and healthy using the sector. Read the piece here: https://lnkd.in/eTBmEezp

Within ukactive’s submission for the Government’s upcoming Budget announcement on 30 October, ukactive has called for a recommitment to the £400m for the scaling up of Musculoskeletal (MSK) hubs nationwide, as outlined in the previous Government’s Spring Budget in 2023. MSK conditions affect over 20 million people annually in the UK, leading to 30 million lost workdays and costing the NHS £6.3bn each year. Yet, with 340,816 people on the waiting list for MSK treatment as of May 2024, this pilot offers a new approach to scaling support. Since the launch of the MSK Hubs pilot in 2021, the pilot delivered 11,785 physical activity sessions to 1,631 people across 94 sites, with 44% of participants reporting noticeable pain improvement in their pain management after 12 weeks. The MSK Hubs model demonstrates the potential of gyms and leisure centres to transform community-based health support, helping to reduce pressure on the NHS and improve quality of life. The programme also highlighted a strong return on investment, with £5.30 in social value generated for every £1 invested. Moreover, calculations from Sport England's social value report released last week show that being active provides £9.3bn in savings through disease prevention and a further £1.3bn from reduced GP visits and mental health services. We’re calling on the Government to scale the MSK Hubs model nationwide, supporting community health and reducing NHS waiting times. Together, we can unlock the full potential of the leisure sector to improve public health. As we approach the Budget announcement on 30 October, read more about the programme’s impact and the case for scaling it here: https://lnkd.in/e6qAG_84 Good Boost Arthritis Action ESCAPE-pain

On 30 October, Rachel Reeves will deliver the Labour Government’s first Autumn Budget, alongside a Spending Review to cover the remainder of this financial year, and the year 2025-26. In this blog, Clemency Lion, Director of Research, Policy and Communications at ukactive, discusses what the physical activity can expect from next week’s announcement. Read the blog here: https://lnkd.in/e-Sxm-K9

On 30 October, the UK Government will announce its Budget for the next year - and it comes at a critical time for the NHS. We must build an NHS fit for the future by investing in physical activity programmes which can keep people healthy at every stage of life, preventing and managing long-term conditions, and supporting recovery, expanding collaboration with community facilities and our highly skilled workforce. Collectively, the sport and physical activity sector already saves the NHS £9.5bn every year by preventing and managing physical and mental illness and according to Sport England's recent report, the sector generates an annual social value of £107.2bn. However, the value generated by the sector could be far greater if the UK reaches and exceeds the physical activity levels of our European peers. At this month’s Budget, the Government can capitalise on the potential of integrating physical activity more closely with the NHS and health and care systems, to deliver savings in the short- and medium-term and to help people live well for longer. Across our sector there are a number of examples of where NHS integration works well, from offering health checks in community facilities, exercise referral schemes, pre-operative and rehabilitation programmes, and ongoing programmes such as the MSK Hubs project. There is also vital cross-sector work currently looking at how to embed physical activity within prevention and treatment pathways. All of this requires ongoing commitment to continue to support community facilities in delivering these services, with long-term support vital in ensuring facilities, sports clubs and community spaces can make the necessary arrangements to properly support people and to continue supporting the vital work which is helping people working in the NHS and social care to prioritise physical activity. Active Partnerships CIMSPA Sport for Development Coalition Sport and Recreation Alliance Youth Sport Trust

Today’s publication by Sport England of its report, ‘Social value of sport and physical activity for England’, powerfully illustrates the essential role the physical activity sector plays in improving the health and wellbeing of our nation. The key findings in the report show: ✅ The Social value generated by sport and physical activity is calculated at £107.2 billion a year ✅ The average active adult generates a wellbeing value of £2,500 a year ✅ Active lives save £540 million on reduced GP visits & £780 million on reduced mental health service use ✅ There is a wellbeing benefit of £8.6bn from children being involved in sport and physical activity Responding to today’s publication, The National Sector Partners Group (NSPG) has issued the following statement, welcoming the positive findings of the report published today. Read the statement here: https://lnkd.in/eJK2DXeM Active Partnerships CIMSPA Sport for Development Coalition Youth Sport Trust Sport and Recreation Alliance