August 31, 2023

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The launch of the Government’s new sport strategy (published 30 August 2023), ‘Get Active: A strategy for the future of sport and physical activity’ sets out a blueprint to improve the nation’s health and fitness, enhance corporate governance in the sport sector and make it more resilient to future challenges at elite and grassroots level. 

The strategy sets ambitious national participation targets - to have over 2.5 million more active adults and over 1 million more active children by 2030 – these targets are intended to reach people of all ages and backgrounds, and meet the UK Chief Medical Officers’ guidance that:

• Adults should aim to carry out at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week 
• Children should aim to carry out at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day 

As part of the new strategy, an expert taskforce will advise on how to deliver on the targets, challenge how ambitions are being delivered and hold the Government, National Governing Bodies, the physical activity sector and schools to account for delivering the targets at both the national and local level.

Figures from the Sport England Active Lives Survey indicate that 25% of adults are currently deemed to be ‘inactive’ in Cumbria, with over 105,000 doing less than 30 minutes of activity in total a week. Meanwhile figures indicate that 51% of children and young people are not meeting the CMO’s guidance of at least 60 minutes of activity a day, and 30% are doing less than 30 minutes a day. 

Active Cumbria, the Active Partnership for Cumbria hosted by Cumberland Council welcomes the Government’s new strategy which recognises the important role that being physically active can play in improving the County’s health and wellbeing and the role of Active Partnerships in realising the strategy.

Chair of Active Cumbria Advisory Board, Lorrainne Smyth comments, “This new strategy sets out clear and ambitious targets to get people more active nationally and the important role that Active Partnerships such as Active Cumbria play in achieving these ambitions at a local level.”

“The strategy highlights a target of at least 75% of investment to be committed to areas with the lowest levels of physical activity and social outcomes.  This very much aligns with the place based working which Active Cumbria have focused on over the last few years in order to strengthen the fabric of our communities across all ages and backgrounds so that more people have access to opportunities to be more active.  We are looking forward to continuing to work collaboratively with our partners to improve the health and wellbeing of the people in Cumbria.”

CEO of Active Partnerships National Team, Andy Taylor comments, “ The network of 43 non-profit Active Partnerships take a place-based approach to reducing inequalities, so we welcome the importance placed on this in the strategy along with the recognition of the value sport and physical activity has in helping transform people’s lives. We partner with local and national stakeholders to affect widespread social change, whether it’s bringing communities closer together, connecting people to opportunities, driving greater inclusion, improving health and wellbeing, and economic productivity - we understand the true impact of being active. This also resonates with our role in implementing Sport England’s Uniting the Movement in tackling inequalities and ensuring everyone is able to experience the benefits being physically active brings.”

“We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively across all areas of Government and with our national and local partners to ensure we create a fairer, healthier nation.” 

More detail around the Government strategy is expected to be released in the coming weeks.

You may also find the following sources of further information of interest:

• The full Government strategy for Sport and Physical Activity: Get Active can be found here
• The full list of members of the National Physical Activity Taskforce, to be jointly lead by Culture Secretary, Lucy Frazer, Sports Minister Stuart Andrew and former England Rugby Union international Ugo Monye as an independent co-chair, will be published by the Government in due course
• Active Cumbria’s 5-year plan can be found here
• Sport England Active Lives Survey
• A summary of some of the important data on activity levels for Cumbria, Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness from the latest Sport England Active Lives Survey can be found here