Why sport?
Improving health and wellbeing
One in five young people miss school or work due to their mental health, but in a recent survey nine out of ten people who have participated in a sporting activity in that time think that sport can improve their mental health
And participation in local sport projects is proven to build self-esteem, resilience, and positive life ambitions.
Reducing inequaility
Not everyone feels that sport is for them – or that it offers a welcoming environment. By helping clubs reach out to all our communities, including those deemed ‘marginalised’ or ‘hard to reach’, they can create inclusive and safe spaces, forge understanding and reduce inequalities
There is also a significant opportunity deficit with around half of adults in deprived areas in all parts of the UK failing to take regular part in physical activity and missing out on sport’s ability to provide life-changing benefits.
Empowering communities
More than half of young people say they find it difficult to make new friends or meet new people, but 97% of children reported feeling a sense of belonging when attending sport clubs.
And across all ages, there is evidence that sport is a type of ‘social glue’, increasing social connectivity and a sense of belonging – while positively impacting on challenges such anti-social behaviour, educational attainment and employability.
And sport has economic value too
In terms of costs saved to society, for every £1 spent on grassroots sport £6 is returned in social value
In England alone, sport and physical activity generate over £100 billion in social value each year – in wellbeing value and in savings to health and social care costs
But grassroots sport remains underfunded and undervalued, and local clubs and communities often lack the resources and expertise required to sustain or grow their activities, particularly in under-served communities.
So access to sport isn’t equal, and sport isn’t benefitting those who need it the most
The Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines is that children do 60 minutes of exercise every day, but 39% of children in the least affluent families do fewer than 30 minutes, and 70% of all children and young people from the least affluent families are unable to swim 25m unaided.
Sported aims to change that – to unleash the power of sport to transform lives and strengthen communities – for everyone
