Understanding variations in sports participation between local areas

The national average for participation in sport and active recreation is 21.9% (Active People Survey 3 result for National Indicator 8).

Analysis of sports participation reveals significant local variations between different geographic areas, with results for local authorities ranging from less than 14% to more than 30%.

Given the impact we know factors such as gender, age, socio-economic group have on sports participation, some of this variation can be attributed to differences in the demographic characteristics of local populations.

In April 2007, Sport England published the results of a modelling exercise undertaken by the Sport Industry Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University. Taking account of the main economic and demographic factors that influence sports participation, the regression model developed calculated “expected” participation rates for each local authority area in England.

Having adjusted national rates of participation to allow for a broad range of demographic factors, considerable variation between expected and actual participation¹ rates was still observed (up to +/- 4-5%) at a local authority level. These differences would therefore seem attributable to a range of other local factors beyond the demographic characteristics of the local population.

In September 2009, Sport England commissioned the Futures Company and Mindshare to build on the modelling work previously undertaken to better understand a wider range of factors that affect sports participation.

The project was delivered in three main stages:

• Revisiting and updating the model of “expected” participation
• Further statistical modelling to understand a wider range of factors affecting sports participation
• Qualitative research into variations in local participation

This work formed part of a larger research project that also looked into the factors affecting participation across sports.

As well as the summary information provided in these pages, download a full technical report covering all of the modelling work.

¹ The Sport Industry Research Centre’s analysis was based on the KPI1 definition of sports participation (including recreational walking and cycling)