The sport and physical activity sector needs to step up its game if it wants to help increase the number of disabled people taking part in activities.

New research shows that the sector could play a key role in getting disabled more active – but that it needs to improve awareness and access to facilities and services.

The research was based on an evaluation of the Get Yourself Active programme, a four-year initiative run by Disability Rights UK and funded by the National Lottery through Sport England.

It showed that the vast majority of disabled people (75 per cent) are simply unaware of what facilities are available to them, while one in five (21 per cent) said the cost of activities was a barrier for them to take part.

Inaccessible facilities – cited by 18 per cent of respondents – was also among the issues cited as things that got in the way of getting active.

"The benefits of sport and physical activity are well documented," said project coordinator Leanne Wightman from Disability Rights UK.