Stuart Anderson MP has welcomed a new national strategy for the future of sport and physical activity, to help forge a healthier nation by getting an additional 3.5 million adults and children physically active by 2030. The strategy, ‘Get Active’, sets out how the Government will ensure that the sport and physical activity sector remains vibrant and relevant in the years to come - tackling today’s challenges and making the most of future opportunities.
Figures from the Sport England Active Lives Survey indicate that 25% of adults are currently deemed to be ‘inactive’ in England - with over 11 million doing less than 30 minutes of activity in total a week. To respond to this, the Government is establishing a new National Physical Activity Taskforce, led by the Culture Secretary, Lucy Frazer, Sports Minister Stuart Andrew, and former England Rugby Union international Ugo Monye as an independent co-chair, to achieve and track progress towards these goals. The taskforce will come up with ways to achieve these targets, challenge how ambitions are being delivered, and hold parties to account for achieving the targets at both national and local levels.
Stuart has spoken about the integral role that sports and physical activity plays in his life, especially his rehabilitation from life-changing injuries sustained as a result of service in the Armed Forces. He has particularly welcomed the measures to make sports more accessible and inclusive for everyone by promoting women’s and disability sport and championing diversity across the sector. It builds on record investment of almost £400 million in grassroots facilities and investment of over £600 million for school sport and PE over the next two years.
Stuart Anderson MP said: “Sports and physical activity have been an integral part of my life, boosting my mental health and assisting my rehabilitation from life-changing injuries sustained during my time in the Armed Forces. Everyone, regardless of their background, should have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities. That’s why I welcome this new, national strategy to boost participation levels by 3.5 million by 2030. Working with the sector, the strategy will see that access to sports is levelled up - ensuring that it becomes more accessible and inclusive for all.”
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “As Culture Secretary I want to increase opportunities for everyone to find the sport or activity that they love, which will help them be healthy and happy. Whether that’s playing with friends on the basketball court, getting on your bike or working out in your living room we want everybody to find a sport or physical activity for them. Our new taskforce, jointly led with Ugo Monye, will work across government and the sports industry to turn these ambitious targets into a reality, helping to break down barriers to help people enjoy the benefits of getting active. Through our support for school sports and our continuing investment of millions of pounds in facilities in local communities across the country we are making sure that people have welcoming and accessible places where they can get active.”
The majority of funding to grassroots sports projects is delivered through Arms Length Body, Sport England, which possesses responsibility for growing grassroots sport and physical activity across the country. Since 2015, the Government has allocated over £1.5 billion to nearly 5,000 grassroots organisations across the UK through Sport England. This is helping to increase opportunities for individuals in all parts of the country to get active and includes £23.2 million in a wide range of grassroots sport projects across the West Midlands. For more information, please visit https://www.sportengland.org/funds-and-campaigns/our-funds.