 |
Lockdown's full impact on participation revealed by Sport England's new Active Lives results
26 Oct 2020
Gains made getting people more physically active over the last few years were all but 'cancelled out' during the first seven weeks of lockdown, according to Sport England.
In publishing its latest Active Lives survey, the sports body said activity levels in England were on course to reach record highs before the pandemic hit.
The study – conducted on behalf of Sport England by Ipsos MORI – covers the 12 months from mid-May 2019 to mid-May 2020 and includes the first seven weeks of lockdown restrictions.
Figures show that more than 3 million people were less active between mid-March and mid-May, compared to the same period a year before, demonstrating the extent to which people’s lives were disrupted.
The survey results also highlight the importance of organised sport and access to facilities for specific group – and that some groups found it more difficult to adapt to the new regulations than others.
Disabled people, people aged 70 and over, people with long-term health conditions and people from black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups (BAME) were disproportionately impacted.
The proportion of active 16-34-year-olds dropped by 10 per cent during lockdown, likely due to their reliance on the activities that were not available in this period and the closure of school and further education settings.
Overall, the data shows that between mid-May 2019 and mid-May 2020, just 62.8 per cent of adults (28.6m) were classed as active, achieving 150+ minutes of activity a week.
More than a quarter of adults (25.5 per cent – 11.6m) were deemed inactive (less than 30 minutes of physical activity a week).
With gyms, swimming pools and sports clubs closing their doors in March 2020, people turned towards activities such as walking, cycling and running.
Walking for leisure showed growth across the 12 months, while cycling for leisure, running and fitness activities continued to follow flat trends.
New products and increased promotion of digitally consumed fitness activities led to more people exercising at home.
During full lockdown, more than 13 million adults took part in fitness activities. This made it the second most common activity undertaken behind walking for leisure.
"With gyms and leisure centres closed, people were encouraged to find alternative activities that could be accessed at home," the report reads.
"The fitness sector was quick to respond, and people were able to switch to digital and self-led fitness classes and interval sessions.
"As a result, numbers held up more than would have been expected. Other ways of exercising at home are reflected in the increase in generic fitness training, which includes activities such as press-ups, pull-ups and other bodyweight exercises."
Tim Hollingsworth, Sport England CEO, said: “Though the early months of lockdown brought unprecedented disruption to our lives and had a huge impact on our overall engagement in sport and physical activity, it is also positive to see how many people turned to new activities like cycling, fitness at home and running.
"It also highlights the challenges this year has brought to those groups who already find it harder than most to be active, with disabled people, people with health conditions and younger people struggling, reminding us of the importance of educational settings, community leisure facilities and team sports that underpin access to activity for so many people across England.
"As facilities have reopened and activities have restarted, great credit is due to those who are out there working incredibly hard ensuring people can return to the sports and activities they love, and though we know the winter months will bring additional challenges, with government support we will continue to support our sector through our funding, our insight and our campaigns."
• To download and read the full Active Lives study, click here for the Sport England website.
back
|
| Latest member news |
 |
|
Community Leisure UK’s Active Kindness project celebrates after being awarded £651,003 in National Lottery funding
Active Kindness, a volunteering programme which previously received Sport England
funding, is celebrating after receiving vital National Lottery funding to leverage
the power of volunteering across public leisure and culture to create greater
community cohesion, stronger personal development of individuals and increase the
diversity of those taking part in health, wellbeing, and creative programmes.
read more...
Edinburgh Leisure Appoints New Chief Executive
Edinburgh-based physical activity charity, Edinburgh Leisure, has announced the
appointment of a new Chief Executive.
read more...
Withington Baths Receives Sports England Grant to Accelerate its Carbon Footprint Reduction Efforts
Love Withington Baths, the non-profit organisation that operates Withington Baths
and co-working space Withington Works, has announced exciting plans to
significantly reduce its carbon footprint and enhance energy efficiency thanks to
a £105K grant secured from Sport England under the Government’s Swimming Pool
Support Fund.
read more...
GLL Celebrate £140k Arts Council Funding
VR headsets, IT hublets and improved seating, shelving and flooring are on their
way to Lye Library, Dudley thanks to funding from the Arts Council.
read more...
Much-Loved Library to Receive Grant Funding of Nearly £400,000
One of Redbridge's most popular libraries will benefit from a significant
modernisation programme after being awarded nearly £400,000 in grant funding.
read more...
Horizon Leisure Scoops Prize at Portsmouth Business Awards
Horizon Leisure, which operates Havant leisure Centre and Waterlooville Leisure
Centre, was crowned Community Business of the Year at the Portsmouth Business
Awards earlier this year.
read more...
Portsmouth Tennis Centre celebrated for bringing tennis to all
Portsmouth Tennis Centre has been recognised by the LTA Tennis Awards for bringing
tennis to under-represented groups and communities throughout the city.
read more...
|
|
Wellness Hub Breaks Down Barriers to Tackle Health Inequalities in North East Lincolnshire
A new report on Lincs Inspire’s Wellness Hub has revealed the difference it is
making to community health.
read more...
Grant from Parkinson’s UK Gives Green Light to New Cycle Classes
Everybody Health & Leisure has launched a dedicated group cycling classes for
people living with Parkinson's Disease.
read more...
Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust score partnership with Club Doncaster
Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust (DCLT) and Club Doncaster have agreed a
partnership that will see DCLT as an official sponsor of the Dons RLFC and sponsor
of two Belles players.
read more...
BPL Achieves Swim England’s Water Wellbeing Accreditation
AWARD winning community leisure trust BPL has achieved Swim England’s Water
Wellbeing accreditation.
read more...
Edinburgh Leisure Scale New Heights Following £100,000 Boost
Edinburgh Leisure’s flagship climbing arena at Ratho has benefitted from a major
funding investment from sportscotland’s Sport Facilities Fund.
read more...
78-year-old George’s marvellous weightlifting medicine
Almost an octogenarian, George Travis is still hammering out kettle bell classes
as an Active Tameside fitness instructor.
read more...
Cefn Hengoed Leisure Centre Gets Massive Makeover
A Swansea leisure centre has been totally revamped with a £7.5 million investment.
read more...
|
| Business partner news |
|
|
|
|
09 Apr 2024
Oxygen Consulting deep dives into padel with forthcoming report
Oxygen Consulting is about to launch its first UK Padel Report, which
investigates this fast-growing sport.
read more...
05 Apr 2024
Ronaldo crashes the app store with launch of new wellness, fitness and health app, Erakulis
Portugese footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, has launched a health and wellness app that harmonises
advice on fitness, nutrition and mental wellness in one seamless experience.
read more...
04 Apr 2024
New research shows BMI fails as a measure of childhood obesity, leading to flawed policy
Waist circumference-to-height ratio is a more reliable measure of obesity in children and
adolescents than BMI according to a new study, published in Pediatric Research.
read more...
28 Mar 2024
4Global and UK Active launch private sector health club benchmarking
The first annual Private Sector Benchmarking report was released today (27 March). A
collaboration between UK Active and 4Global, the aim of the research is to provide accurate
insight into the state of UK-based private sector health clubs.
read more...
|
|
27 Mar 2024
Egym snaps up Hussle as it moves to dominate the corporate wellness market with its Wellpass product
Egym, has signalled its intention to become a dominant force in the corporate wellness sector
with the acquisition of UK-based aggregator, Hussle.
read more...
26 Mar 2024
Total Fitness turns a profit as it beats pre-COVID membership
Total Fitness has released results for its most recent financial year (to June 23), which saw a
return to pre-COVID membership levels following a year-on-year uplift in membership numbers
of 5 per cent.
read more...
25 Mar 2024
Entrepreneurs share secrets of building a fitness business at PerformX
Enjoy building your business because the journey can be as good or better than the destination
was one takeaway of the industry titans’ panel on empire building, comprised of three industry
entrepreneurs.
read more...
22 Mar 2024
Myzone removes the hardware barrier with launch of MZ-Open, making its system available on smart watches
Myzone is now available on smart watches, allowing Android and AppleWatch wearers to record
workouts without an additional device, and taking the tech company into the multi-billion dollar
smart watch market.
read more...
|
|
|
|
| General Meetings |
 |
|
CLUK General Meeting
15 May 2024: Glasgow
|
| Special Interest Groups |
|
|
Social Value
16 April 2024
|
Volunteering
24 April 2024
|
Finance
2 May 2024
|
|
For more information about Special Interest Group and regional / national members meetings, please contact [email protected]
|
| Job vacancies |
|
|
Centre Manager
Salary: £40,221 - £42,403pa + pension + benefits
Location: Exeter, UK
Company: Exeter City Council
Read more and apply
|
Director of Operations
Salary: £61,000 - £64,000 + exceptional pension + excellent benefits
Location: Luton, UK
Company: Active Luton
Read more and apply
|
Membership Manager
Salary: £29,605 - £32,982pa + pension + benefits
Location: Coventry, UK
Company: University of Warwick
Read more and apply
|
Chief Executive Officer, Mount Batten Centre
Salary: c£65,000pa + pension + benefits
Location: Plymouth, UK
Company: Mount Batten Group
Read more and apply
|
|
