EuropeActive and ukactive have today (3 February) announced a new agreement which will see the sector bodies continue to work together closely following Britain’s exit from the EU.
ukactive CEO Huw Edwards and EuropeActive Executive Director Andreas Paulsen signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the organisations’ joint mission of improving physical activity levels through the support and development of the sector.
The MoU sets out the terms for ensuring that organisations and the workforce within the fitness and physical activity sector are equipped with the insight, knowledge and standards to meet the needs of the population now and in the future.
The agreement includes a commitment to supporting the development of the sector by working towards establishing an evidence base that demonstrates the impact of physical activity on society.
The organisations will work across their memberships and with their partners to address any gaps in the sector’s ability to deliver lasting impact, as well as to identify long-term strategic challenges and opportunities for the sector and to ensure it is fully supported to meet them.
Most recently, the organisations collaborated on a European-wide report showing COVID-19 safety data gathered by operators across the UK and Europe.
In addition, a Mutual Recognition Agreement was signed between the European Register of Exercise Professionals (EREPS) and the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), which maintains the CIMSPA Exercise and Fitness Directory.
It represents a commitment to upholding and respecting the decisions made by each body in the practice and governance of their registers. As part of this commitment, both registers will recognise and accept the registration of members of the partner register. The alignment between EREPS and CIMSPA is a significant step forward in the promotion of global standards for fitness and physical activity professionals.
Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive, said: “We are delighted to renew our partnership with EuropeActive at this time, building on our successful relationship, and demonstrating the unity of the physical activity sector across Europe at this challenging time.
“Faced with the political and economic uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit, the strength of our partnership has never been clearer or more important. Together, we can ensure that physical activity plays its fullest role in the future health and success of our nations.”
Andreas Paulsen, Executive Director at EuropeActive, said: “The signing of the MoU with ukactive is a significant step forward towards building on and strengthening the way we work together on a number of key issues and activities across Europe.
“Our expanded partnership with our close British friends is a concrete symbol of the unity of the fitness and physical activity sector, which EuropeActive is vigorously working for, and which will pave the way for coming active alliances with many other trade association partners.
“Particularly as we move out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the unity and collaboration of our sector is pivotal to its general recovery. There will be no time or place to put ego before the collective interests of our industry, but every opportunity to be ambitious and innovative through our collective power like never before.
“EuropeActive is honoured to be working closely with ukactive as we firmly believe our combined resources will help position our sector as providers of physical activity which also supports social and mental health and wellbeing.”
More People More Active More Often
