Our updated research shows that improved health from participation in sports and physical activity relieves pressure on the NHS through £10.5 billion a year in health and social care savings.
Our new research calculates the annual social value of community sport and physical activity to be £107.2 billion.
The value is made up of £96.7 billion in annual well-being value for adults, children, and young people taking part in and volunteering in sport and physical activity—and a further £10.5 billion in wider savings to the health and social care system a year.
This relieves pressure on the NHS through the prevention of illness, reduced mental health service usage, fewer GP visits and a reduced need for informal (unpaid) care.
Through an in-depth analysis of our Active Lives data and review of wider evidence for the health benefits of being active (including the costs associated with the treatment and care of illness and poor health), the research reveals the profound social and economic benefits of sport and physical activity for communities across England.
We undertook the research in partnership with social value advisors State of Life, Sheffield Hallam University and Manchester Metropolitan University, and you can download a report summarising the findings below or on our dedicated social value webpage.
Tim Hollingsworth Chief Executive, Sport England "Our research is unequivocal in making the case for sport and physical activity to be a central part of the solutions to the issues facing our country.
"We build wealth through health: people playing sports and leading active lives turbo-charges our well-being, prevent illness, save the NHS billions and can boost our health and economic growth.
"However, the shocking cost of inequalities in activity levels is a social and economic burden. If we can protect and invest in opportunities to play sports and be active, particularly for communities and people who face the most barriers to taking part, we will be healthier, wealthier, and happier.
"That’s why our 10-year strategy Uniting the Movement is laser-focused on tackling inequalities and today’s research proves again that this approach matters.
"Health experts have called physical activity a 'miracle cure'. We stand ready with our partners across the sector to work with the government to unleash the miracle cure for our NHS, our economy and our future."
Today’s publication presents the findings from year one of a three-year study. The annual figures are based on participation, volunteering and population data for the year 2022/23, with all figures in 2023 prices.
The next two years will provide further analysis that builds on our understanding of how the social value of sport and physical activity is generated and distributed between different people, places, activities and stakeholders.
Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, said: "Being physically active is one of the best things we can do to stay healthy and independent throughout our lives, and sport is one of the most enjoyable ways to achieve this.
"The greatest health gains are from helping people who do little activity to do a bit more. This report shows that we need to make it easier for particular groups to engage in physical activity including sport."
Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock said: "These findings from Sport England underline just how vital sport and physical activity are to creating a fit and happy nation.
"Supporting the country to get active will be crucial in achieving our mission of building an NHS fit for the future. We are committed to giving people every opportunity to lead active lives for all the brilliant benefits it brings, helping to tackle some of the nation's most pressing health issues."
Wellbeing value (WELLBY) is the monetary value that can be placed on happiness, health and life satisfaction. Active adults (those who do more than 150 minutes of physical activity a week) enjoy the greatest well-being value: the equivalent of £2,500 per individual per year, compared to inactive adults.
The social cost of inequalities in activity levels
Our unique research tool, the Inequalities Metric, measures inequalities in physical activity levels in a holistic way.
For adults who are disabled or live with a long-term health condition, the well-being value generated is £5,100 – more than double that for the average active adult.
For adults who experience two or more characteristics of inequality (such as an older person with a disability) the well-being value generated through an active lifestyle is around 50% higher than for the average active adult – calculated at £3,800.
By using the Inequalities Metric and its new research, we've identified the additional social value that would be generated if the physical activity levels of the whole adult population – including those most likely to experience inequalities – rose to the same level as adults with zero characteristics of inequality.
This has been costed at £15.6 billion, demonstrating the major wellbeing and economic loss driven by inequality in sport and physical activity.
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