Sported sign open letter urging government to encourage daily exercise post lockdown
By Sported | 5th August 2020
Sported Chief Executive, Nicola Walker has signed an open letter to Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, urging him to restate the Government’s commitment to encouraging daily exercise for physical and mental wellbeing.
This initiative has been led by Dr Sarah Metcalfe from the University of Durham following her report: Lockdown, Girls and Being Active: A Window of Opportunity to Build a Positive Legacy?
In Dr Metcalfe’s research, she finds that:
40% of girls reported an increase in their levels of physical activity during lockdown. These girls were those whom were least active pre-Covid-19.
69%of girls identified that after lockdown they will have a positive engagement with being active
Sported are pleased to put our names to this letter along with our partners and co-members of the Sport for Development Coalition at Women in Sport and the Youth Sport Trust.
“There’s no doubting the benefit of regular physical activity for both physical and mental health; and these findings that it’s inactive girls who have increased their activity during lockdown is hugely encouraging. We call on the Government to continue to push this message and to support the Sport for Development sector, where organisations excel in offering tailored opportunities to meet the needs of their local communities.”
-Nicola Walker, Sported Chief Executive