Our evidence needs to inspire change

Huw Edwards CEO ukactive

There is an ever-growing dependency on gyms, pools, and leisure centres to drive physical activity levels in our country, and this is reflected in the last two sets of Active Lives Surveys published by Sport England in the last six months, covering both adults and young people. These figures show that fitness and swimming activities remain major drivers of physical activity as the third biggest source of activity for adults – behind only walking and active travel. With an increase of 1.5% on the previous year (approximately 800,000 more people), it mirrored the popularity demonstrated in Sport England’s survey of children and young people last year.

This growth is also clear from our own findings in ukactive’s Private Sector Benchmarking report, released in April. The data showed that private operators across the UK have seen a 10% growth in gym memberships at their facilities since January 2022 and this growth was also evident in the recent report from EuropeActive and Deloitte on the European health and fitness market.

What’s abundantly clear is that our nation’s gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres are essential in supporting the health and wellbeing of communities and consumers are continuing to look towards our sector to help them to lead active, healthy lives.

But what cannot be ignored is the challenging backdrop that operators continue to navigate to keep providing these essential services. In our latest Energy Risk Register survey of members, operators told us that ongoing pressures in the form of high energy costs, staffing concerns, and the cost of living are major concerns and without the right support, this could put communities at real risk of restricting or, at worst losing, their vital access to support.

These figures should be a note of caution to the government if there is to be any hope of addressing the decline in our national health. The government’s Get Active Strategy sets targets for growing activity levels by getting 2.5 million more adults and 1 million more children active by 2030 and the government will need these facilities to operate with confidence and security if their target can be achieved.

As we approach a General Election, any future government needs to put in place a strategy that uses all the levers it has at its disposal

Furthermore, as we approach a general election, any future government needs to put in place a strategy that uses all the levers it has at its disposal if it’s serious about making the nation more active, healthier and happier. This can be achieved in several ways but by working hand-in-hand with the representative bodies from the UK’s physical activity, sport and recreation sector (the National Sector Partners Group), alongside our members, the government can provide a focused strategy on areas such as children and young people, and the workforce, and show how it will support the renewal and growth of the sector’s facilities.

This involves working in partnership with us, understanding how our facilities are instrumental in preventing ill health, and empowering our sector to be the leading force in solving some of the Government’s biggest priorities, such as record levels of long-term sickness and growing NHS waiting lists.

What is reassuring is that our sector is already playing its part in tackling these challenges and we’re making real strides in building this political will within government as part of our wider lobbying work, including showcasing our members’ facilities across the UK. We’re doing everything we can to ensure our sector gets the representation and support it deserves. It is now up to the government - and our next government - to recognise our role in delivering its ambitions.