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Economic development

Sport and physical activity contributes £39 billion to the UK’s economy and a significant portion of this comes from grassroots sport: the millions of people who buy trainers, bikes, gym memberships or pay match fees.

The sector boots the economy in two ways. 

Directly, through job creation, and indirectly by reducing healthcare costs due to a healthier population and reducing crime.

As such, the economic impact of sport is a fundamental part of our strategy and we’ll invest in sports and physical activity projects that contribute to the national and local economy. 

How we measure it 

Successful economic development is measured by the economic value of sport to the UK economy.

To help measure the impact of sport and activity on economic development, we use our Active Lives Adult Survey.

Walking handstand in the gym

The benefits of being active

The Government’s Sporting Future strategy identified five outcomes of sport, and everything we do and every project we invest in must increase and enhance at least one of these outcomes.

Learn more about the outcomes by clicking on the links below. 

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