Active Partnerships Expansion

Sport England are extending their work in communities across the country to ensure those in greatest need can be active. The announcement of 53 new expansion places is designed to address regional inequalities in activity levels across England.

Each place is in the top 10% of the country for inactivity, social need, deprivation and health inequality at a national level, according to the data from our latest Active Lives Adult survey and Place Needs Classification Tool.

This announcement builds upon Sport England's £250 million investment into the heart of communities across England, designed so those in greatest need are able to be active.

The map shows Sport England's first 53 Place Partnerships; alongside their 12 existing Place Partnerships (formerly local delivery pilots) that they began working with in 2018.

Sport England will announce an additional 27 Place Partnerships later in 2025, meaning their coverage across England will grow further as they phase in the Place Universal Offer, working with all 43 Active Partnerships.

With less than half of children meeting the Chief Medical Officer's guidelines for daily physical activity and women, people from lower socio-economic groups and Black and Asian people still less likely to be active than other adults, inequalities in activity levels could have a negative impact on the country in the long term, according to Sport England chair Chris Boardman.

“Health inequalities have become embedded in our communities, with rising inactivity amongst children a particular worry,” Chris said.

“Inactive kids are more likely to be inactive adults and more at risk of develop chronic illness that costs the NHS and our economy; it’s a ticking timebomb for the long-term health and wealth of the country. We must address it urgently.

“Physical activity is rightly described by health experts as the ‘miracle cure’. It's not only part of the solution for the physical, mental and social health problems facing our communities; it's also pivotal to getting the economy moving.”

The latest Active Lives surveys show that affluence and activity levels are closely linked: over a third of adults (34%) are inactive in England’s most deprived places, compared to 20% in the least deprived.

Less than half of adults (49%) are active in the less affluent area of Barking and Dagenham, while over three-quarters (79%) of adults are active in affluent Brighton and Hove.

Children from lower-income families have lower rates of activity than those from wealthier families; local authority data reveals that in Richmond on Thames, nearly two thirds of children and young people are active (62%) – but in Thurrock, an area of high social need, it’s just over a third (34%).

To tackle inactivity in the 53 new places, Sport England are taking a place-based approach – partnering with local organisations and leaders who understand both the specific needs of their communities and the local assets that are available to support people to play sport and get active. 

As such, Active Surrey are collaborating with Sport England to boost levels of physical activity among people living in the most deprived, inactive areas. 

Surrey and its communities are receiving a focused effort to increase physical activity, with key areas like Stanwell facing particular challenges.

Across the Surrey, 22% of adults are inactive, with Stanwell seeing a higher rate of 30.5%. Additionally, 27% of children and young people (CYP) in Surrey are less active than recommended, and in Stanwell, this number rises to 29%.

This initiative is part of a wider £250 million investment by Sport England to improve physical activity levels in some of the most deprived communities across England. Areas like Stanwell, along London areas such as Tower Hamlets and Brent, are among the 53 locations set to benefit.

In October Sport England published a report on the social value of sport and physical activity. 

It showed that healthy, active lifestyles save £10.5 billion a year for the health and care system, relieving pressure on the NHS through the prevention of chronic illness such as dementia, diabetes and depression, and saving money through reduced use of health services – such as GP visits or mental health support.

In addition, this new research reveals that every £1 invested in community sport and physical activity generates £4.20 for the English economy and society, demonstrating the value of active lifestyles in growing the economy and building stronger communities. 

With lifespan varying by up to nine years depending on where you live, according to the Office for National Statistics Needs Index 2021, Sport England's mission to ensure that everybody has the opportunity to play sport and get active – regardless of background, bank balance or postcode – is more urgent than ever.