Leading bodies for health, sport, recreation, fitness and leisure urge Party leaders to commit to making UK most active nation in Europe.
A coalition of more than 200 bodies, athletes, businesses and charities across health, sport, recreation, and physical activity has written an open letter to party leaders calling on them to use the General Election to #TakeTheLead and commit to making the UK the most active nation in Europe.
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:
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.”
Tara Dillon, CEO of CIMSPA: "As we approach the election, it is crucial for all political parties to recognise the importance and value of sport and physical activity as the catalyst for improving health and wellbeing and economic prosperity across the nation.
“By supporting active lifestyles, we not only create a healthier population but also drive economic growth through lower healthcare and income support costs, increased productivity, and thriving sport and physical activity businesses.
“Those with ambitions of forming the next government need to harness our dedicated workforce as they are integral to spearheading initiatives that promote physical activity especially in areas of the greatest health inequalities. Parties must recognise that where coaches, instructors and trainers are working hand in glove with healthcare professionals there is a strong body of evidence that demonstrates significant social and economic value.
“With economic growth and relieving pressure on the NHS at the top of the to-do list for whoever walks through the front door of 10 Downing Street on 5th July, putting sport and physical activity at the heart of policy planning to make the UK the most active nation in Europe, is imperative.”
Hitesh Patel, Executive Director of the Sport for Development Coalition, said: “The evidence is clear – multiple returns on investment can be achieved if we fully realise the wide-ranging benefits of sport and physical activity. As we enter another packed summer of sport and ahead of the General Election, the #TakeTheLead campaign is a timely opportunity to remind our politicians that, by committing to making the UK the most active nation in Europe, they will be committing to tacking health and societal inequalities in the UK’s most disadvantaged communities. This is reflected in the Sport for Development Coalition’s #OpenGoal framework and being delivered everyday through over 400 organisations in our network.”
Andy Taylor, CEO of the Active Partnerships National Organisation, said: “We want all political parties to commit to ensuring that we become a more active nation, making active lives the norm for everyone, no matter where they live or the barriers they currently face.
“Supporting every adult and child to move more would not only lead to a healthier and happier nation, it would also ease the pressure on the NHS, increase productivity in the workplace, help children and young people to be better learners and bring local communities together.
“The sport and physical activity sector also stands ready to support the next Government on major issues such as tackling climate change.”
Ali Oliver MBE, CEO of Youth Sport Trust: “The upcoming General Election and the exciting summer of sport ahead gives the opportunity for all parties to set out how they would create a more active country. Currently fewer than half of children are meeting the Chief Medical Officers’ recommended guideline of 60 minutes of physical activity a day, so it is imperative children and young people sit at the heart of this ambition to make UK the most active nation in Europe.
“Increasing physical activity will not only lead to happier and healthier children and young people, but will help us get upstream of challenges in education including absence, attendance and behaviour and in time reduce the burden on the NHS. I am proud to stand with other leaders from across the physical activity sector, united in our desire to work with whoever forms the next government to achieve this compelling ambition.”
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.
