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Stepping up our support for places to tackle inactivity

A crouching mum helps her son hold his bow and arrow while he aims during an archery session.

We’re investing £25 million in our Place Universal Offer until 2028, working with 30 Active Partnerships and other local organisations to drive community-led change. Local authorities Place-based working Uniting the Movement

New guide to creating safer gym and leisure spaces for women

A group of women exercise in a gym studio.

The This Girl Can campaign worked with ukactive to help facilities better communicate policies on harassment and intimidation. Facilities Gender Research This Girl Can

Sport England leadership team changes

General view of the Sport Park office in Loughborough, Sport England's head office

The organisation will be restructured alongside the changes to the executive team. Uniting the Movement

How our funding is supporting Olympic pathways

Team GB speed skater Niall Treacy competes at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Learn about the role we play in backing aspiring winter sports athletes through our investment of National Lottery and Government funding into talent and support programmes. Disability Funding National governing bodies

Five years of Uniting the Movement

Two girls contest the ball during a game of hockey on a grass pitch.

We’re five years into our ongoing mission to ensure everyone can play sport and take part in physical activity – and later this year we’ll be unveiling our plan for the next phase. Uniting the Movement

This Girl Can's push in support of new and expectant mothers

Three pregnant women stand talking outside while holding yoga mats.

Our groundbreaking campaign is shining a light on the fact that over half of pregnant women and new mums on lower incomes feel excluded from sport and physical activity. Research This Girl Can

Board members reappointed as two depart

Combined headshots of Michelle Cracknell and Jason Fergus, Sport England board members

The reappointments have been made by the Secretary of State and took effect from 1 January 2026. Government

Importance of protecting playing fields reiterated

A general view of playing fields, with football pitches in the foreground and rugby pitches in the distance

The latest data indicate our role as a statutory consultee saw 94% of all concluded planning applications involving playing fields result in the protection or improvement of facilities. Government Local authorities Planning Tackling inactivity

Three-year funding extension for We Are Undefeatable

A man stretches his arm across his body ahead of an outdoor yoga session.

We've awarded three more years of National Lottery funding to the campaign that supports people living with long-term health conditions to be more active. Funding Health conditions

Children’s activity levels rising but inactivity remains too high

A South Asian young female shoots at the basket while playing wheelchair basketball in a sports hall

More children than ever are taking part, but too many are missing out on the benefits of an active lifestyle. Children and young people Gender Health conditions Lower socio-economic groups Research Tackling inactivity Uniting the Movement

Place expansion continues with 27 new partnerships

We've announced more partnerships with places across the country where we'll work directly with communities to tackle high rates of inactivity. Funding Place-based working Uniting the Movement

New guidance on achieving greater diversity and inclusion

Two people consider something on a mobile phone while sat at a work desk above indoor tennis courts.

We've produced a new resource with UK Sport that aims to help sport and physical activity organisations develop plans to embed inclusion at every level. Governance Research

Health, wealth and happiness - the £123bn value of activity

Three young girls adopt a press-up position on the grass outside, all facing each other in a circle

The latest figures come from the second year of our social value model, which also shows a potential extra £20 billion of social value available by tackling inequalities. Funding Government Research Tackling inactivity Uniting the Movement

Chair issues statement on statutory consultee consultation

A playing field with a grass running track on it

Our chair publishes statement following opening of Government's planning reform consultation. Government Planning

Public leisure centres helping to tackle inequalities

A woman playing badminton in a sports hall.

The figures come from our latest Moving Communities report, which also shows an increase in women using the facilities, quality of facilities and highlights their value to society. Facilities Local authorities Research Tackling inactivity

Chloe Kelly surprises team with Lottery funding announcement

England footballer Chloe Kelly takes a selfie with a groups of girls at an after-school football club

The England international made a shock appearance at Saving Souls Hub to tell them they were the recipients of National Lottery money that has been awarded via Sport England. Funding

Chair backs new government campaign to keep families active

A smiling mother and daughter practice yoga together, side by side

Let's Move uses real families as inspiration for how to stay active during the autumn and winter months, when parents expect their children's activity levels to dip. Government Uniting the Movement

This Girl Can calls for action on women's freedom to be active after dark

A group of women run at night down a road decorated with high-vis footprints.

Let's Lift the Curfew returns with a renewed call for action on women’s safety and freedom to be active after dark. Gender This Girl Can

Chair: Let's fight back on climate change

Chris Boardman warns extreme weather will exacerbate the national inactivity crisis – but believes our sector has huge potential to change this. Funding Sustainability

Chair and director of Safe Sport project appointed

A schoolgirl smiles while jogging among fellow pupils in a sports hall.

Nick Pink and Neil Cooper will lead the next steps in the collective mission to create a safe, supportive sporting environment across the UK. Governance

OpenActive secures fresh funding boost

A woman holds a netball on an outside court as an opponent closes in.

We’ve invested a further £700,000 in the sector-wide initiative that aims to make it easier for people to find opportunities to get active through better use of data. Funding Health conditions Tackling inactivity Uniting the Movement

New agreement to tackle inactivity in West Yorkshire

Sport England chief executive Simon Hayes and West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin sign a memorandum of understanding at a table.

We’ve signed a joint pledge to embed sport and physical activity into the everyday lives of people across West Yorkshire, building on our investment in the region. Funding Government Local authorities Uniting the Movement

NBA to invest in UK grassroots basketball

A man shoots a basketball over another player who tries to block it, while other players watch on

The decision follows talks between the NBA Commissioner and Prime Minister Keir Starmer in July. Funding Government

This Girl Can is back with major new advertising push

A pregnant woman and a girl dance in a kitchen.

We've launched a major new national TV, outdoor and digital campaign called We Like the Way You Move. Gender This Girl Can

New chief executive takes up post

Simon Hayes joins Sport England from his previous role as chief executive of HM Land Registry. Government Uniting the Movement

Three new members appointed to our Board

Headshots of Sport England Board members Tom Gribbin, Vaughan Lindsay and Sarah Massey.

The appointees bring a wealth of experience and will help set our direction over the next three years. Government Uniting the Movement

From grassroots to greatness - a rugby revolution

Sheffield Tigers line up for a celebratory picture at Twickenham

As the Women’s Rugby World Cup kicks off today in Sunderland, we're witnessing the culmination of three decades of National Lottery support that’s transformed women and girls' rugby from the grassroots up. Funding National governing bodies

New partnership to support pregnant women to be active

We'll work with the charity to better support pregnant women and new mums to be active and reduce inequalities in their activity levels. Gender Tackling inactivity

Tim Hollingsworth leaves role as chief executive

The driving force behind our Uniting the Movement strategy concludes his time with us after more than six years. Uniting the Movement

New guidance for gyms and leisure centres to make safer spaces for women and girls

This Girl Can has helped produce tools and training to ensure facilities are safer for all women. Facilities This Girl Can

Chair writes to Ofcom about online abuse of women's footballers

Chris Boardman speaks at a lectern during COP29 in Azerbaijan.

Read Chris Boardman's letter to Ofcom chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes DCB expressing concern about recent online abuse directed towards the England Women's football team. Gender This Girl Can

Whyte Review: update on 19 commitments

There will be a review into British gymnastics

We and UK Sport have provided an update on the 19 policy commitments we made in 2023, after commissioning the Whyte Review to look into abuse in gymnastics. Children and young people National governing bodies

New partnership to transform health in South Yorkshire

Sport England chief executive Tim Hollingsworth, South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard, and South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board CEO Gavin Boyle stand with a signed memorandum of understanding.

We've announced a major collaboration with the region's mayoral combined authority and integrated care board to increase activity levels and improve lives. Funding Government Uniting the Movement

Coronation Street to host celebration of grassroots football investment

General view of the Coronation Street set and the Rovers Return

Representatives of clubs from England and Wales will meet at Coronation Street tomorrow to celebrate National Lottery funding of the game, enabling pathways from local pitches to international tournaments. Funding National governing bodies Uniting the Movement

Chris Boardman reappointed as our Chair

Our reappointed Chair, Chris Boardman, talks during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), which was held in Baku, Azerbaijan in November 2024.

The Secretary of State has designated the active travel and sustainability advocate to lead our Board until 2029. Government Sustainability Uniting the Movement

Chief executive's letter to Select Committee in full

Our chief executive Tim Hollingsworth has written to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee following his appearance at the 'Game On' inquiry. Government

New £5m scheme to help leaders tackle inequalities

Two girls face other on a field, both leaning forwards in a wrestling stance.

Leading the Movement will support and connect decision-makers working to make sport and physical activity accessible and inclusive to everyone. Funding Tackling inactivity Uniting the Movement

Bold new vision for safe sport unveiled

Two young boys grapple with each other practising a Judo move on a brightly coloured mat

The first findings of the Safe Sport project, which aims to establish a unified approach to safeguarding in sport, have been published. Governance

Chair welcomes major government investment in grassroots sport

Two young female footballers with the ball in the air on an outdoor artificial grass pitch at night.

The government has committed £400 million to new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities across the UK, alongside £500m to support world-class sporting events. Facilities Funding Government

New fund to create 'world's greenest sports industry'

Our chair Chris Boardman has announced up to £16 million from our Movement Fund will be reserved to help the sector respond to the impact of climate change. Sustainability

Simon Hayes appointed new chief executive

Our new chief executive will join us in September after six years at HM Land Registry. Uniting the Movement

This Girl Can launches group exercise resource hub

A row of women lunging with blocks in a fitness class.

Created with EMD UK, Reach Up aims to transform more women’s lives through group exercise. This Girl Can

Update on the British Ju Jitsu Association

The association has met several conditions imposed upon it by the Home Country Sports Councils so will continue to be recognised as the national governing body for ju jitsu in the UK. National governing bodies

Our funding helps Bradford deliver world-leading results for children

Three children wearing helmets ride on scooters.

As new research finds the JU:MP programme we funded is having a significant impact on getting children active in Bradford, we’re investing an extra £4 million into the city. Children and young people Local authorities Place-based working Tackling inactivity

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