How can we lead more active lifestyles? Lords Committee publish call for evidence

• Call for evidence
• Inquiry: A National Plan for Sport and Recreation
• Send a written submission
• Select Committee on a National Plan for Sport and Recreation

The inquiry

 The Committee will look at a wide range of issues including: 

• how we can increase physical activity, including among young people
• how we can increase participation in sport among underrepresented groups including women and girls, disabled people, people from ethnic minority communities and low income groups, and
• whether current funding structures are effective in getting money to where it has most impact.

Committee Chair

Lord Willis of Knaresborough, Chair of the Committee, said:

“In 2015 the Government launched its Sporting Future strategy which followed a long period where we saw significant investment in sport after the introduction of lottery funding and the 2012 Olympics.  However, we have also seen stagnant physical activity rates and changes in the way people keep active. The time has come to ask whether the Government have the right priorities for helping more people to live active lifestyles.

“Our inquiry will only be as strong as the evidence we get and I would encourage anyone with an interest in these issues to give us their views. We would love to hear from people delivering sports and recreation at the grassroots to understand what help they need to get more people active.”

Questions

The Committee’s call for evidence asks the following questions:

1. How can local delivery, including funding structures, of sport and recreation be improved to ensure that people of all ages and abilities are able to lead an active lifestyle? For example, how successfully do local authorities and other bodies such as Active Partnerships, Leisure Trusts, local sports clubs and charities work together, and how might coordination be improved?
2. How can children and young people be encouraged to participate in sport and recreation both at school and outside school, and lead an active lifestyle?  If possible, share examples of success stories and good practice, and challenges faced.
3. How can adults of all ages and backgrounds, particularly those from under-represented groups, including women and girls, ethnic minorities, disabled people, older people, and those from less affluent backgrounds, be encouraged to lead more active lifestyles? If possible, share examples of success stories and good practice, and challenges faced.
4. Sporting Future: A New Strategy for an Active Nation, the Government’s 2015 sports strategy, outlines five outcome priorities: physical health, mental health, individual development, social and community development and economic development. Are these the right priorities and how successful has the government been in measuring and delivering these outcomes to date?
5. Is government capturing an accurate picture of how people participate in sport and recreation activities in its data collection? How could this be improved? 
6. How can racism, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny and ableism in sport be tackled?
7. What can be done to improve and implement effective duty of care and safeguarding standards for sports and recreation actives at all levels?
8. What are the opportunities and challenges facing elite sports in the UK and what can be done to make national sports governing bodies more accountable? For example, accountability for representing and protecting their membership, promoting their sport and maximising participation.
9. What successful policy interventions have other countries used to encourage people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to participate in sport and recreation, and lead more active lifestyles?
10. Should there be a national plan for sport and recreation? Why/why not?

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committee
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees