Sport England expands Place Partnerships to 27 new locations

Sport England has revealed a major expansion of its Place Partnerships, adding 27 new locations in which it will work with local organisations to tackle inequalities in access to sport and physical activity.

The expansion focuses on places, towns, cities and communities where people face the biggest challenges to being active. Each of the 27 new locations ranks in the top 20% nationally for inactivity, social need, deprivation and health inequality.

Sport England says the move is part of its strategy to reduce the “postcode lottery” for physical activity – ensuring that where a person lives does not dictate how long they live, or the opportunities you have to be active.

According to Sport England’s own figures, more than a third of people (34%) are inactive in England’s most deprived places. In the most affluent areas, the proportion of inactive people is far less – just one in five (20%).

“The postcode lottery for physical activity can deepen health inequalities across the country,” Sport England said.

“It isn’t just about exercise: it’s about opportunity, quality of life and life expectancy, which can vary by nine years depending on your postcode.

“People who live in places of high social need often face barriers that make being active hard. The problems are different in every place, so the solutions must be too.”