Reducing Inequalities in Sport and Physical Activity
At Active Humber, we are working to reduce inequalities in sports and physical activity so that more people can get involved, no matter their background or circumstances.
Understanding Inequality in Physical Activity
Sport England has introduced the Inequalities Metric, a new way to measure and address barriers to participation. This approach looks at how different personal characteristics combine to affect activity levels.
Research shows that the biggest predictor of lower physical activity levels is having two or more characteristics linked to inactivity.
If we can reduce the gap between those with no barriers and those with two or more, we could:
- Increase active adults by 10%
- Increase children meeting exercise guidelines by 4%
Who is Most Affected?
The Inequalities Metric identifies key groups that are less likely to be physically active:
For Adults:
- People with disabilities or long-term health conditions
- People 65+
- Those from low-income backgrounds
- Asian communities
- Pregnant women and parents of babies under one year
For Children & Young People:
- Girls
- Non-binary or those who don’t identify as male or female (secondary school)
- Children from low-income families
- Disabled children or those with long-term health conditions
- Asian and Black communities
The more of these characteristics someone has, the more likely they are to be inactive.
Watch the explainer video to understand the Inequalities Metric better.
Coastal Inequalities
Communities along England’s North East coast, from Gibraltar Point (Lincolnshire) to the Scottish border, are some of the most inactive in the country.
- 1 in 3 of the least active areas in England are in coastal communities.
- The current system hasn’t provided enough support to tackle inactivity in these areas.
To address this, six Active Partnerships, including Active Humber, have come together as the North East Coast Active Partnership (NECAP).
We have published a report: “England’s Physically Inactive Coast: Turning the Tide”, which outlines the issues and calls for national support to improve activity levels in coastal communities.