The CEO of ukactive, Huw Edwards, has today (3 June) given evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee for its ‘Game On’ inquiry.
The inquiry is examining the health of physical activity and sport in local communities and schools, assessing whether more can be done to sustain and grow physical activity and sporting communities.
Huw gave evidence alongside the CEO of Football Foundation, Robert Sullivan, and Councillor Peter Mason, Leader, London Borough of Ealing, who represented the Local Government Association.
The inquiry covers the funding available for community sport and physical activity; how to help children develop positive, lifelong relationships with physical activity; how to support volunteers; and how to enhance physical activity in under-represented areas.
Huw set out the opportunities for the Government if it invests in physical activity and supports the sector to grow – highlighting the following points:
- Greater support for health and fitness facilities and services will significantly reduce pressure on the NHS and support economic growth. For example, the success of the sector’s health programmes, including the MSK Hubs model, shows huge potential if they can be scaled.
- The Government needs a clear strategy and plan for investment in the sector. It has the opportunity to prioritise the sector in next week’s Spending Review and beyond.
- The Government must recognise the value of both the public and private sectors and create an environment for external investment in both.
- The Government must shift its approach to advocate and drive participation in physical activity or risk falling behind other health-conscious nations.
Watch the highlights from our evidence below.
More information on the Game On inquiry can be found here and the full session can be found here.
To find out more about ukactive’s work to get more people active, visit our News section.
More People More Active More Often
