New research released today by Activity Alliance has revealed the significant social value of disabled people being active, as well as the societal cost of inequality. The national charity, on the International Day of Disabled People (3 December), is calling on policy and decision makers to prioritize creating inclusive sports and activity opportunities for disabled individuals.
Working with experts from State of Life, the charity conducted a specific assessment of disabled people’s activity, building on Sport England’s recent report for the whole population. The findings showed that if disabled people were supported to meet the official Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines of 150 plus minutes of activity per week, there would be a social value of £6,200 per person per year. This is three to four times the value of non-disabled people being active. To put this into perspective, this figure is almost equivalent to being employed rather than unemployed, which has a social value of £7,000.
When also factoring in moderate and light activity, the societal cost of inequality amounts to at least a £10.9 billion “activity gap.” The figures highlight the importance of providing opportunities for disabled people to engage in even light activity, which has a social value of £4,400 per person per year. This is significant compared to the impact of light activity on non-disabled individuals. The charity noted that this is particularly revealing as light activity does not officially count towards the weekly active minutes in the Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines.
Currently, disabled people and those with long-term health conditions are twice as likely to be physically “inactive” as non-disabled adults, with 41% of disabled adults reporting inactivity compared to 21% of non-disabled adults (Sport England, Active Lives Adult Survey 2022-23). Additionally, only 43% of disabled people feel they have the opportunity to be as active as they want to be, compared to 69% of non-disabled people (Activity Alliance Annual Disability and Activity Survey 2023/24).
On the same day, the charity released its latest strategy, “We all belong,” with its Honorary President Tanni, Baroness Grey-Thompson stating, “We all belong in sports and activities. Yet many disabled children and adults don’t feel that they do. At school, in the local park or working out in a nearby gym, we all have the right to welcoming, inclusive, and accessible opportunities.”
She continued, “The reality is that society remains an unfair and unjust place for many disabled people. Every single day, there are stories up and down our country of disabled children and adults missing out on the joy that being active can bring. We must not accept this.”
The charity’s new strategy sets out a vision for a future where all disabled people feel they belong in sports and activities. It outlines three ambitions to drive change: ensuring sports and activities meet disabled people’s needs, empowering disabled individuals to influence campaigning, policy, and decision-making, and addressing inequalities by working with others.
Activity Alliance’s CEO, Adam Blaze, stated, “Today, we make a rallying call for policy makers and allies to stand with us, take notice, and drive meaningful change as we launch our new strategy. These latest figures say it all – clearly highlighting that there is huge value in disabled people being active, even by doing small bouts of movement, significantly more than non-disabled people. More effort must be given to breaking down barriers so that disabled people feel that light activity, like walking down the road or playing in local parks, is achievable.”
Blaze added, “For disabled people to be more active, it takes a wider movement to change systemic barriers that prevent it. Whether in health, transport, or education, policy makers play a vital role in ensuring more disabled people feel that they belong.”
State of Life founder, Will Watt, commented on the research, saying, “This research builds on our recent work for Sport England by specifically exploring the wellbeing impact of activity for disabled people. At a time of constrained resources, it is important to invest where you can make the biggest difference. This report makes it clear that activity – even if that is light activity – has the potential to make a significant difference to the health and wellbeing of the UK.”
The report on the social value of disabled people being active can be downloaded from Activity Alliance’s website on 3 December. The charity’s new strategy can also be downloaded from the website on the same day.
Distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/
