SPORT England is launching a £25 millioninitiative to assist Active Partnerships increating better opportunities for physicalactivity and driving positive change acrossthe sector. The funding is designed to ensure that every community in England can work towards making physical activity more accessible and inclusive.
This investment is a crucial part of Sport England's broader ‘Place’ strategy, with £250 million from National Lottery and Exchequer funds being directed into local communities over the next five years. The goal is to ensure that individuals in the greatest need can access physical activity and sport. The initiative recognises that location, socioeconomic background and the surrounding environment heavily influence how likely a person is to engage in physical activity. Sport England’s Place Universal Offer will focus on addressing these inequalities and help communities level up their access to sport and physical activity, supporting the objectives outlined in the ‘Uniting the Movement’ strategy. With 43 Active Partnerships already operating across England, these networks will work closely with local authorities, the NHS, community leaders and voluntary sectors. The initiative will provide tools, resources and learning opportunities to help local leaders and organisations work together, driving long-term change in communities. The support from the Place Universal Offer will begin with ten Active Partnerships, which have already been tested and refined in collaboration with the sector. From this, Sport England aims to roll out the initiative to all Active Partnerships by 2025/2026, ensuring widespread support for local strategies and encouraging a more active nation.