11/01/2024
We're very pleased to announce that the Sport Industry Research Centre's report for Sport England on the impact of the on in and has been published our report this morning. Written by Simon Shibli and David Barrett, the report covers five broad themes: the sport economy; participation; clubs and voluntary groups; facilities, and; the sport workforce.
Sincere thanks to Activity Alliance CIMSPA EMD UK London Sport Sport and Recreation Alliance sported Sporting Equals and Get ukactive for helping us to get this over the line.
Here are the highlights:
- Participation rates in physical activity have remained stable compared to pre-Covid levels.
- The increased cost of living has led to changes in sport and activity behaviour, which are unlikely to be reversed until household finances improve.
- People from the most deprived areas and socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to report reduced levels of physical activity caused by increases in the cost of living.
- Club activities are nearing pre-Covid levels, but cost pressures, especially from rising energy prices, affect club finances which in turn, is making access less affordable for some.
- Some facility providers have concerns regarding increases in utility costs and are responding by reducing sessions and increasing fees.
Cost of living pressures are also having an impact on the sport and physical activity workforce:
- Some people are volunteering less due to time constraints, meaning that other people are volunteering more to compensate.
- Paid staff, especially those with low wages or in casual positions, are leaving the sector for better opportunities elsewhere.
- Some employers are considering redundancies and closures due to budget constraints.
The full report and a summary are available to download here:
New report published by Sport England and developed with Sheffield Hallam University outlines the impact of the cost of living on sport and physical activity.
