National Audit Office has published its value for money report into grassroots participation in sport and physical activity. The report examines whether the Department for Culture Media and Sport England have achieved value for money for spending on sport and physical activity.
Findings include:
- £85.5bn estimate of the contribution in social and economic benefits from community sport and physical activity in England in 2017-18
- 52% of people found new ways to be active during the COVID-19 pandemic
- 1.2% more of the adult population were active in the year to November 2019 (pre-COVID-19 pandemic) than the year to November 2016.
The report highlights some progress that has been made in increasing participation in sport and physical activity since 2012. It also suggests that leadership and collaboration across government has been inconsistent, with the result that the sector’s contribution to wider policy objectives has not been maximised.