Sport, recreation and physical activity sector calls for clear vision from Government as Spending Review signals commitment to national health and growth

By Active Partnerships | 11 June 2025 | TAGS: physical activity

We welcome the Chancellor’s recognition in the Spending Review that there can be no growth without health and our sector is ready to play a crucial role in the nation’s renewal – maximising its contribution to Government missions on economic growth, health and opportunity for young people.

We now await the precise details around funding for sport, recreation and physical activity, and we stand ready to work with the Government to advise on where best to invest in community provision.

The economic reality facing the Chancellor is reflected in today’s settlement. However, we believe that now is the time to invest in our sector in order to reap the major health, economic and social returns of getting more people physically active, when the need and demand for our services has never been greater.

We welcome a number of the commitments set out in today’s announcement to invest in community sports facilities and programmes. However, it is important this forms part of a compelling Government vision to maximise the full potential of sport, recreation, and physical activity in this parliament that is developed with our organisations.

The Government’s vision must include tangible plans to:

• Improve the health and happiness of young people through a new national plan for children’s physical activity including PE, sport and play.
• Foster the growth and renewal of sustainable and energy efficient community sports facilities by prioritising them in planning and infrastructure decisions, while supporting new streams of investment.
• Drive agile skills and workforce policies to harness the potential the sector has to address economic inactivity, especially in young people.
• Fully integrate our sector with the NHS to support people with long-term health conditions, including musculoskeletal conditions, cancer, cardiorespiratory diseases and obesity, as well as mental health issues.
• Recognise the role that sport can play in delivering a range of social outcomes across the Government stated missions, engaging with underserved communities to create opportunities for people to be physically active in ways that work for them.

Sport, recreation, and physical activity can serve as a powerful engine for sustained economic growth by improving the nation’s health, fostering innovation, generating employment, attracting investment and improving wellbeing across all ages.

This is a golden opportunity for the Government to recognise public demand and the sector’s potential, and work with us to build a healthier, happier, stronger Britain.

Andy Taylor, CEO of the Active Partnerships National Organisation, said:

“The Chancellor highlighted today that there is no strong economy without a strong NHS and we believe there is no strong NHS without the sport and physical activity sector.

“Our sector has a critical role to play in the prevention agenda, as movement and physical activity helps to prevent illness and manage long-term health conditions, therefore easing the strain on the NHS.

“We were also pleased to hear about the Government’s plans for renewing pride in communities, including through improvements to parks and leisure facilities.

“Our network of 42 Active Partnerships stands ready to support the Government and work with partners to ensure that communities can cocreate these improved spaces and facilities to match local people’s specific activity needs.”