Sport England launches resources to help people with long-term health issues on World Health Day – 7 April

On World Health Day (7 April), Sport England together with the Richmond Group of Charities, are calling on the sport and physical activity sector to help more people with long-term health conditions to be active.

To support sport and physical activity professionals, Sport England has launched a resource pack that collates the latest research on the barriers to activity for people with long-term health conditions. The pack also highlights key benefits of promoting physical activity to this group and provides examples of practical changes to support improved accessibility and inclusion.

Sport England's long-standing partnership with Richmond Group of Charities is integral to the implementation of the Uniting the Movement strategy. It strengthens the relationship between sport and physical activity and the health system. It recognises that collaboration between the two sectors is vital to reduce inequalities and support people with long-term health conditions to be active.

Activity for all

More than 40% of the adult population live with at least one long-term health condition. This group is almost twice as likely to be inactive as those without conditions.

As we emerge from Covid-19 restrictions, which impacted everyone's ability to get active, 60% of people with long-term conditions still feel safer being active at home. 30% say the pandemic has damaged their confidence to be active.

Sport England's Sarah Worbey, national partnership lead for health and inactivity, said: Â"Our long-running partnership with the Richmond Group of Charities is one of the key ways we are working to increase collaboration between the health and sport and physical activity sector, as both workforces play vital roles in helping support people with long-term health conditions to be active.

Â"Together we have launched the We Are Undefeatable campaign, and we encourage the sport and physical activity sector to sign up as a supporter and access our free marketing materials.

Â"The resource pack we're launching today pulls together key information from the latest research into barriers, to relevant training and resources, to case studies highlighting how to make changes in practice.”

What's in the resource pack?

• Outlines four ways the sport and physical activity sector can make a difference and help people with long-term health conditions be more active.
• Provides a summary of essential research and insight about physical activity and long-term health conditions, detailing the important role that sport and physical activity providers can play in supporting more people with long-term health conditions to increase their physical activity.
• Provides useful statistics and information relevant to our audiences, as well as resources and case studies with more information and inspiration from good practice.

Find out more

Access the Sports & Physical Activity Sector Resource Pack here.

See the full Sport England article here.