Blog: Prioritising disabled people in sport critical post-lockdown.

Posted: Tue, 13 Jul 2021 15:47

Blog: Prioritising disabled people in sport critical post-lockdown.

The COVID-19 pandemic has left its mark on the sport and leisure sector. We may be down, but we're not out. It's time to fight back and return to the sports and activities that we love. But we must do so in an inclusive way, one that puts disabled people at the heart of sport and leisure.

In April, Sport England's latest Active Lives Survey findings confirmed our fears. The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented increase in inactivity for disabled people. 2.7% more disabled people were classed as inactive between November 2019 and November 2020 than the previous 12-month period. While findings from a recent YouGov poll commissioned by us flagged more cause for concern. Just over 7 in 10 disabled people (72%) agree that the coronavirus pandemic has made sport and physical activity less fair for disabled people. And only 3 in 10 (30%) disabled people agree that disabled people have the same opportunity to be active as non-disabled people.

As the leading voice for disabled people in sport and activity, we will not allow disabled people to become 'the forgotten group'. Prioritising disabled people in sport and leisure is absolutely critical as the sector rebuilds itself post-lockdown.

In May, we launched our new three-year strategy, Achieving Fairness, with an immediate focus on how we respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. It sets out a clear ambition to close the gap between disabled and non-disabled people's inactivity levels within a generation. Two clear goals will drive the strategy forward - changing attitudes towards disabled people and embedding inclusive practice in sport and activity. We want disabled people to be at the heart of our nation's recovery...

From Activity Alliance.

Tags: Funding, Health, Physical Activity, Sport, participation