Physical activity sector challenges party leaders to commit to improving nation’s health in election manifestos

Chair of ukactive Tanni Grey-Thompson asks political parties to back four major policies and put physical activity sector at heart of prevention agenda

Each of the UK’s main political parties must commit to four key policy areas to radically transform the health of the nation, Paralympic legend Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson said today (31 October) at the ukactive National Summit in Westminster.

The ukactive Chair made an impassioned speech, highlighting the opportunity for physical activity to play a greater role in reshaping modern Britain, including a call for government to make a crucial change to business regulations that would allow more gyms and leisure operators to open on the high street and in town developments.

A letter published today reveals she has written to the leaders of the Conservative Party, Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and the DUP, asking them all to address four policy calls in their upcoming election pledges:

• Adfywio'r stryd fawr trwy weithgaredd corfforol
  Ymrwymo i fynd i'r afael â chyfraddau uchel o dai manwerthu gwag ar y stryd fawr trwy newid agweddau cyfyngol y ‘system dosbarth defnydd’ i annog gweithredwyr ffitrwydd a hamdden i agor ar y stryd fawr a chanolfannau busnes cynradd.
  
• Agor ysgolion fel hybiau cymunedol i gefnogi plant a teuluoedd
  Mae model Ysgolion fel Hwb Cymunedol ukactive yn cynnig clybiau plant a ddarperir ar delerau ffafriol yn ystod y gwyliau, gyda bwyd maethlon a gweithgareddau a ddarperir by arbenigwyr o’r sector gweithgaredd corfforol. Dylai’r holl brif bleidiau gwleidyddol ymrwymo i fynd â’r model hwn i raddfa genedlaethol, gan ddechrau o’af Haf nesaf, a chyrraedd dros 6,500 o gyfleusterau ysgol erbyn 2022.
• Gwella hygyrchedd i deithio gweithredol a chyfleoedd gweithgaredd thecach i weithlu'r genedl
  Ymrwymo i ehangu'sgema'r Beic i'r Gwaith i gynnwys ystod ehangach o gyfleoedd ac ategolion gweithgaredd corfforol, gan gynnwys tracwyr ffitrwydd a aelodaethau o gampfeydd, ac ymrwymo i gynnal astudiaeth dichonoldeb gyda ukactive i archwilio sut y gall the sector ffitrwydd a hamdden bartneru'n strategol â mentrau teithio llesol.
• Cefnogi oedolion hŷn i gael mynedkad at fante
  Ymrwymo i sicrhau bod pob derbynnydd meddygaeth a ragnodir hirdymor hefyd yn derbyn presgripsiwn gweithgaredd yn darparu arweiniad a chefnogwch i gynyddu eu gweithgaredd, ac y bydd unrhyw Bapur Gwyrdd neu Bapur Gwyn yn y dyfodol ar gofal cymdeithasol yn gwneud atal yn brif flaenoriaeth.

The Paralympic champion called for the government to “invest in the optimism” of the physical activity sector to maximise its impact in addressing societal challenges, from reducing deadly health conditions to anti-social behaviour, social isolation and workplace wellbeing.

Baroness Grey-Thompson said: “Today I have written to the leaders of the main political parties in Westminster requesting a number of commitments within their General Election manifestos. These requests will establish a new relationship with our sector in a new political environment.

“What do we want modern Britain to look like? If our sector is going to flourish and thrive – if it’s optimism is going to be realised – it needs an environment that supports it and provides people with the opportunities to be physically active.”

Speaking on high streets, she highlighted a Freedom of Information request from ukactive, showing that councils with high vacancy rates on the high street consistently score below national averages for key public health indicators including life expectancy.

“We can play a key role in delivering urban renewal, transforming our towns and cities, and at the same time improving public health as well as economic health,” she said.

“But right now our hands are tied – the shackles of regulation mean that gyms and leisure centres are not on a level playing field.

“So we urge the main political parties to commit to addressing high rates of retail vacancy on the high street by changing the restrictive aspects of the ‘use class system’ – encouraging fitness and leisure operators to open on the high street and across town developments on a greater scale.”

Baroness Grey-Thompson was joined at the QEII Centre in Westminster by speakers including Health Secretary Matt Hancock, Olympic gold medallist Dame Jess Ennis-Hill, former Cabinet Secretary Lord Gus O’Donnell and Chair of the Royal College of GPs, Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard.

Addressing more than 600 leaders and policymakers from across the health, fitness, sport, leisure, business, retail and construction sectors, the speakers discussed the opportunities for physical activity to transform health and social outcomes in the UK.

The event, held in partnership with Willmott Dixon and eGym, positions physical activity, and the sectors that deliver it, as critical to the health, wellbeing and prosperity of the nation. This year’s theme reflects three major areas of public life: How we live, Where we live, and How we work.

Sport England led a dedicated session throughout the day focused on how its Active Environments strategy is making an impact across the country, while other breakouts explored the role of physical activity in the NHS Long Term Plan; combatting youth violence through physical activity; delivering the ambitions of the Prevention Green Paper; and the future of the working environment.

Read the full letter yma

Support a policy call ahead of the General Election