Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Building a more inclusive physical activity sector
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is essential to creating a physical activity sector that is accessible, welcoming and fair for everyone. ukactive supports organisations to embed inclusive practices, remove inequalities, and deliver services that can be equally accessed and experienced by all. Through evidence‑led guidance, resources and our free EDI self‑assessment toolkit, we help the sector strengthen its capability, manage risk and drive meaningful, measurable change.
Driving sector progress to provide a more inclusive service
The physical activity sector plays an essential role in narrowing the disparities and inequalities faced by people today, no matter their age, ability, or background. Our role at ukactive is to best support the industry’s growth and ensure the sector can provide services that are accessible to all members of society. For this to happen, we must ensure our services and provisions are equally accessed, enjoyed and participated in by all so that the benefits of physical activity are felt across the entire population.
We want the physical activity sector to be seen and recognised as the most welcoming and more inclusive industry.
In our mission to get more people, more active, more often, ukactive has established a clear role in helping the sector to provide a more inclusive service. EDI helps ensure that every organisation in the fitness, leisure and physical activity sector can offer safe, equitable and inclusive services, regardless of age, ability or background. Strong EDI foundations improve the experience of members, colleagues and communities, while helping organisations meet legal and regulatory responsibilities, manage reputational and operational risk, and remain ready to engage new audiences and markets.
ukactive’s ambition, set out in Vision 2030, is for the sector to engage more than five million new members from a greater diversity of backgrounds. EDI is central to achieving this ambition.
Your EDI Maturity Score - free and instant
The ukactive EDI self‑assessment toolkit is open to all organisations across the sector. It provides:
- An instant EDI maturity and effectiveness score
- Strategic recommendations to improve inclusion
- Resources to support action and implementation
- A clear view of how inclusive your organisation is today
The tool consists of 40 short questions covering:
Governance & leadership | Data & insight | Programming | Provision & partnerships | Workforce & training
Scores are private and shared only with the organisation completing the tool.
Sector scores and reports
In February 2025, ukactive announced the findings of its first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) self-assessment tool and report.
The findings reveal the current EDI performance of a sample of organisations across the physical activity sector and their ability to deliver the most inclusive service.
The report, called ‘Progressing the EDI agenda’, marks the end of the first year of consultation using the self-assessment tool, which was completed by organisations, including facility operators from both the private and public sectors, as well as other providers and also suppliers.
Organisation’s own scores are sent directly to the user and are not shared externally.
Resources, guidance and insight to support equality, diversity and inclusion
ukactive hosts a suite of EDI resources, guidance, insight and campaigns which include:
- Everyone Can: Supporting disability access and inclusion
- Safer Spaces to Move: Helping women and girls feel more confident and safe
- Life in Our Years: Understanding the needs of people aged 55+
- MSK Health Hubs: Supporting people with musculoskeletal conditions
- Guidance for transgender access and providers of single‑sex spaces
- Guidance for children in gyms and group exercise
ukactive’s EDI work is strengthened by collaboration with specialist partners and those with lived experience, including:
- Everyone Can Taskforce
- Safer Spaces to Move Taskforce
- Children, Young People and Families Steering Group
- ukactive Member Councils (Private, Public and Supplier)
- Wider Activity Forum
These groups provide vital insight, challenge and support to ensure our work reflects the needs of communities across the UK.
Get in touch
Get support with your EDI journey
Use the form below to contact our team. Whether you’re beginning your EDI work or strengthening existing practices, we’re here to provide guidance, resources and tailored support.