sport-england-2016-17-annual-report-and-accounts

performance analysis
MOVING
INTO
CHANGE
OUR NEW STRATEGY IS CLEAR THAT
WE WILL FOCUS FAR MORE EFFORT,
MONEY AND RESOURCES ON TACKLING
INACTIVITY BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE
THE GAINS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL
AND FOR SOCIETY ARE GREATEST
The benefits experienced by a sedentary person
who does even a small amount of activity far
outweigh the value of an already-active person
doing even more. More than one quarter of
the adult population in England is classed as
inactive (Active Lives, January 2017), so the target
audience is large. Over half of that audience
already has a long-term health condition.
Substantial change cannot be achieved by Sport
England alone, so in 2016-17 we have developed
relationships with organisations that can help us
reach and engage with that audience.
Across 2017-21 we are dedicating time, expertise
and at least 25% of our total investment to
tackling inactivity. This includes direct investments
through a new, dedicated National Lottery fund
of £120 million, and ensuring that a proportion of
our funding for local delivery, children and young
people, and facilities also benefit this group.
In December 2016, we launched the first round
of the new £10 million fund focused on Active
Ageing. This will support projects, programmes
and partners that will help us design innovative
and effective approaches to helping older people
get active.
More than 20 million people will be aged 60
or over by 2030 and activity steadily declines
with age (Active Lives, January 2017).
Tackling inactivity will be driven by powerful
partnerships. People looking to start a new
activity will need support, encouragement and
motivation from people who they know and trust.
We’re working closely with Public Health England
(PHE) to establish clear messages on the
Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines on activity,
and a training programme to support primary
healthcare professionals.