ukactive is part of a coalition of leading organisations across sport, recreation and physical activity that has today come together for the first time to call for radical reform to support the growth and development of the sector.<\/p>\n
A landmark report, \u2018Unlocking the potential<\/em>\u2019 proposes a clear strategic vision for how to fully harness the sport, recreation and physical activity sector to improve the physical, mental and social wellbeing of the nation and support our renewal as a country post-pandemic.<\/p>\n The report argues the sector can be integral to successfully delivering a number of key government priorities, including \u2018levelling up\u2019, driving economic growth, achieving net zero and supporting the NHS.<\/p>\n Senior health leaders have consistently called physical activity the \u2018miracle cure\u2019 which can tackle the growing burden of preventable illness.<\/p>\n The report also proposes a range of systemic interventions, including access to investment, tax and regulatory changes and wider policy reform which the coalition believes are key to maximising this role.<\/p>\n Collectively, the National Sector Partners Group (NSPG) and its members help deliver \u00a385bn per annum in social value through improved health and wellbeing, educational attainment, community cohesion, reduced crime and economic impact. The physical activity sector supports more than half a million jobs and engages more than six million volunteers.<\/p>\n The NSPG includes Active Partnerships, the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity, the Local Government Association, the Sport for Development Coalition, the Sport and Recreation Alliance, ukactive, and the Youth Sport Trust.<\/p>\n Leaders of the NSPG organisations said: \u201cAs leading voices in the sector, we are united in calling for fundamental change that will transform the role our sector can play in the national renewal.<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe that ours is a sector that needs to be empowered, supported and protected so that it can grow and realise its full societal potential.<\/p>\n \u201cWe also firmly believe that, by working more collaboratively with all arms of government and its agencies, sport, recreation and physical activity can make a far greater contribution to the key public policy challenges the Government now faces.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the context of the ongoing review of the Government\u2019s sport strategy \u2018Sporting Future\u2019 and the \u2018School Sport and Activity Action Plan\u2019, we believe this is the right time to make a positive and constructive contribution to the debate.<\/p>\n \u201cWe hope this report can help shape that debate within government and beyond, and support further dialogue on the kinds of interventions we believe are necessary to unlock the potential of our sector.<\/p>\n \u201cFundamentally, we are asking for two things with this report:<\/p>\n \u201cFirstly, securing a greater recognition of the enormous potential of sport, recreation, and physical activity across Whitehall and for this to be connected explicitly to the delivery of key cross-government priorities, including levelling up, strengthening public services, driving economic growth and net zero.<\/p>\n \u201cSecondly, that the sector is given the right tools and operating environment to succeed. This means recognising we are a dynamic, interconnected economic sector which requires the same vision, investment and policy reform as any other.\u201d<\/p>\n Examples of proposed reforms to support the sector\u2019s growth and development include:<\/p>\n