Delivering the inside track on outdoor recreation

Alliance CEO, Emma Boggis, blogs about her day at Lake Windermere to discuss with Helen Grant MP the future plans for outdoor recreation in the UK.

It is Monday morning at 0930hrs. Having left London four hours earlier in the dark and the rain it’s great to be on the edge of Lake Windermere in the dry, enjoying the stillness – at least until we start what I can only describe as trampolining through the trees.

As someone who generally feels much happier on terra firma, I am pleased to be told that the activity we are undertaking is aimed at the 3-8 years age group although it does rather bring back memories of being somewhat shown up by my Godson on a climbing frame a few years ago. Nonetheless it’s a really innovative and fun way for children (and grown ups!) to play and explore outdoors and a good demonstration of what the sector is doing to encourage people to get out and get active.

But of course the real reason for being in the Lakes wasn’t to jump around up trees but rather to cohost with DCMS and the Outdoor Industries Association an opportunity for the Minister for Sport, Helen Grant MP, to talk about the future of outdoor recreation. At the Sport and Recreation Alliance it is a subject of great importance to us and to many of our members.

As many of you will know, the Alliance published our Reconomics report in June 2014 because we wanted to demonstrate the economic value of outdoor recreation and build the case for why it was important to invested in it. From that work we know that:

• Outdoor recreation is the UK’s favourite pastime
• 3 in 4 adults in England regularly get active outdoors
• The outdoors generated a total visitor spend of £21 billion in 2012/13 and walking tourism alone supports up to 245,500 full-time equivalent jobs

Since the publication of the report we have been working with our members to raise the profile of outdoor recreation and all the benefits it can have for people’s health and wellbeing, as well as the economy. We were delighted that, in a Westminster Hall debate in September last year, the Minister gave a commitment to consider a national outdoor recreation strategy. We were even more delighted when she made a subsequent commitment to do more than Ministers sometimes mean when they say they will consider something!

Since that point she has led a roundtable discussion with a range of stakeholders on outdoor recreation. Importantly it was also attended by the Minister for Public Health Jane Ellison MP and the DEFRA Minister (PUSS Natural Environment and Science) Lord de Mauley. This demonstrates the recognition across Government of the importance of outdoor recreation and a willingness to work together on an issue which we think is vital.

At the Alliance we recently launched our Five Step Plan for a more active nation – a more colloquially our “To-Do List” for new Ministers which sets out a range of asks for the incoming Government. Step Five focuses on the outdoors and the need for leadership and joined-up working by central government in this area. It is so important because:

• We want the outdoors to be accessible and protected
• We know that the outdoors can make people happy and healthy, as well as help children and young people achieve their potential
• We know that the outdoors contributes to the economy, in particular it can help people be active and generate cost savings to health

A Minister for the outdoors and a national outdoor recreation strategy would help make all of this happen. Which is why whether it is Helen Grant or another Minister following the General Election, we are committed to this agenda and we’ll continue to work closely with them to drive this forward.

Read more from Emma

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