More than 30 million adults in England now meet the recommended 150 minutes of moderate activity per week, an increase of 859,000 compared to the previous year, according to Sport England's latest Active Lives survey. Sport England reports there are now 3.3 million more regularly active people than when the survey began, and physical activity among over-75s has grown by 11% over the past decade, according to the survey. Simon Hayes, chief executive of Sport England, said the continued growth is great to see, with more adults than ever enjoying the benefits of physical activity. He added that the progress is testament to the incredible work of many people across the sector, including millions of volunteers.
Despite the overall gains, significant disparities remain. According to the survey, activity levels among black adults have stayed at 57%, and among Asian adults (excluding Chinese) at 56%. Only 53.8% of the poorest adults meet the 150-minute target, compared to 54.8% a decade ago, the survey found. The survey also indicates that women are less likely to be active than men. Hayes acknowledged that where you live, your socioeconomic circumstances, your gender, and your ethnicity still have a significant impact on how likely you are to be active.
Regional differences are also pronounced. The West Midlands is the least active region, with only 1.7% growth in activity over a decade, while the south-west is the most active, with 3.5% growth, according to the survey. Walking for leisure has seen a surge, with 1.3 million more people taking it up than before 2020, the survey reports. Fitness activities such as gym or exercise classes have reached a 10-year high, with 15.3 million participants. The survey also shows that running and gym/fitness activities are growing in popularity, team sports are almost back to levels seen nine years ago, and swimming numbers have stabilised.
In response to the findings, the government is taking a place-based approach to sport funding, according to Stephanie Peacock, the minister for sport. She said the government is taking a place-based approach to make sure the right facilities reach the right communities, backed by £250m through Sport England to reach local places with the highest levels of inactivity and at least £400m into multi-sport community facilities.
However, a parliamentary report from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee concluded that funding for school and community sport is insufficient and increasingly unstable. MPs highlighted limited facilities and an absence of national co-ordination that prevents the system from operating effectively. The report claimed that while demand, particularly from women and girls, is rising, facility provision is declining.