A new report shows movement and dance generates £3.49 bn of social value a year, representing around five per cent of the total social value generated by community sport and physical activity.
The research was conducted by the Sport and Recreation Alliance, the 26 members from its Movement and Dance division along with a consortium of academic professionals.
It finds that of every £20 of social value created by sport and physical activity, £1 is created uniquely by movement and dance.
Movement and dance creates £430m in savings on physical and mental health and prevents more cases of breast cancer and hip fractures than its ‘market share’.
Other benefits include delayed onset of Parkinson’s disease, reduced loneliness and improved retention in activity of young people, older people and those living with disabilities.
As a result of the findings, the report recommends that movement and dance are better used to relieve pressure on the NHS, by being integrated into health, care and prevention practices, including social prescribing. It also says movement and dance should be used to keep the ageing population active.
“By outlining the incredible social value movement and dance generates, relative to the support and attention it receives, this report demonstrates just how underused it is in this country, and the potential impact it could have in so many areas. There is no doubt that movement and dance is currently overlooked and as we can now see, that needs to change,” says Lisa Wainwright, CEO of Sport and Recreation Alliance.
