New numbers from Sport England show that children and young people’s activity levels are stable, but significant collective action is needed

Sport and Recreation Alliance responds to Active Lives Children and Young People report.

This year’s Active Lives Children and Young People Survey results show activity levels are stable, but stubborn inequalities based on gender, geography, ethnicity and affluence remain.

Girls are still less likely to be active than boys and the gap in activity levels based on family affluence and ethnicity remains largely unchanged from last year.

We know the importance of getting our children and young people active to build a sporting habit for life and help address low levels of wellbeing – yet still over half our children, and crucially those who need it the most, are still not getting the full benefits of sport, recreation and physical activity.

There are some positive trends with an increase in children and young people engaging in active travel, as well as continued growth in the number of girls playing football, demonstrating that targeted investment, positive role models and working in partnership with the sector can deliver real change.   

The new Labour government has set out one of its core missions to break down barriers to opportunity for children and young people. As part of this it has committed to reforming the national curriculum to expand access to sport, getting more children active by protecting time for physical education and supporting the role grassroots clubs play in expanding access to sport.

In this context there is a crucial opportunity to reimagine our approach and put sport, recreation and physical activity at the heart of our schools and communities. The ongoing Curriculum and Assessment Review, combined with decisions on key school sport funding streams and investment through the forthcoming Spending Review will all be crucial to delivering long-term, sustained and positive change for children and young people.

The Alliance, alongside our members and sector partners, will continue to work constructively with Government to make this a reality.

Lisa Wainwright, CEO of the Sport and Recreation Alliance says: "The latest numbers in the Active Lives Children and Young People survey reaffirm that more needs to be done to get children and young people of all backgrounds engaged in sport, recreation and physical activity.

"Decisions taken in the next six months will fundamentally shape what we can achieve collectively – the outcome of the Curriculum and Assessment Review alongside positive decisions on key funding streams, such as the PE and Sport Premium, and departmental Spending Review settlements will be critical building blocks to help us get more children and young people active, healthier and happier.”

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