The percentage of the population (adults 16+) volunteering in sport and active recreation for at least one hour a week

The volunteering indicator will provide an important measure of voluntary activity in sport. Sport makes the largest contribution to voluntary activity in England but is experiencing many pressures. Those who volunteer provide a vital capacity to support and sustain opportunities for those who want to take part and be active. Volunteering also benefits the volunteer directly through social engagement, increasing self-esteem and development of skills that often accompanies voluntary activity as well as providing wider community benefits liked to community cohesion and engagement.

For more information on how this indicator was applied in the culture service assessment in 2006, including the relevant thresholds and any specific treatment, please contact the Audit Commission: 0207 166 2394, or refer to CPA: The Harder Test 2008.
How is this indicator be collected?
What does a LA need to provide?
What are the associated costs?
When will the data be available?
Does this indicator apply to all local authorities?
How do I calculate my CPA score?

How is this indicator be collected?
The Active People Survey has been developed to specifically collect information to provide a robust and reliable measure of the participation and volunteering indicators. Ipsos MORI were commissioned to carry out the survey in 2005/6 on behalf of Sport England. The survey is being repeated in 2007/8 (The Active People Survey 2) and 2008/9 with 500 people from each local authority being surveyed in each year.
Back to top

What does an LA need to provide?
There are no specific demands on local authorities associated with this survey. It is commissioned and managed by Sport England and the results are provided to local authorities electronically.
Back to top

What are the associated costs?
Sport England will fund the cost of the surveys in the first year. Thus, there will be no cost to local authorities.
Back to top

When will the information be available?
The Active People Survey was conducted between October 2005 and October 2006. The results are now available. Active People Survey 2 is being conducted between October 2007 and October 2008.
Back to top

Does this indicator apply to all local authorities?
This indicator will only be included in the culture service assessment for single tier authorities.  For County and District Councils performance will be reviewed, where appropriate, through the corporate assessment
Back to top

How do I calculate my CPA score?
The data that will be used in the 2008 culture service assessment will be based on volunteering rates from the results of the full year Active People Survey, adjusted by levels of local deprivation as measured by IMD (Index of multiple deprivation). For further information on adjusting results for deprivation, please contact the Audit Commission: 0207 166 2394, or refer to CPA: The Harder Test 2008.
Back to top