According to a study by Sport England, improved health from participation in sport and physical activity relieves pressure on the national health system (NHS) through GBP 10.5 billion a year in health and social care savings.
They have calculated that the annual social value of community sport and physical activity is GBP 107.2 billion. The value is made up of GBP 96.7 billion in annual wellbeing value for adults, children and young people taking part and volunteering in sport and physical activity – and a further GBP 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.
“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 sport and leading active lives turbo-charges our wellbeing, prevents illness, saves the NHS billions and can boost our health and economic growth,” Sport England CEO Tim Hollingsworth says.
“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 sport and be active, particularly for communities and people that face the most barriers to taking part, we will be healthier, wealthier, and happier.” Sport England has its own 10-year strategy Uniting the Movement. it 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.”
Highlights from the report
Active lives relieve some of the NHS burden, preventing 1.3 million cases of depression, 600,000 of diabetes and 57,000 of dementia (the UK’s leading cause of death) – saving billions a year. Active lives save GBP 540 million on reduced GP visits and £780 million on reduced mental health service use. Being physically active generates a wellbeing value of GBP 2,500 per adult – while being ‘fairly active’ also brings significant benefits of GBP 1,200 per adult. Active children and young people (aged 11 to 16) generate a wellbeing value of GBP 4,100 annually; for fairly active children, it’s GBP 3,100.
Wellbeing values are also higher than average for many groups that are most likely to experience inequalities in participation – such as older people, people with disabilities or a long-term health condition, as well as people from Asian backgrounds. For adults who are disabled and/or live with a long-term health condition, being active generates a wellbeing value of GBP 5,100 a year – more than double than for the average active adult.
Three-year study
The 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 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.”