New partnership to transform health in South Yorkshire

We’ve signed a landmark agreement to boost sport and physical activity and improve health outcomes for people in South Yorkshire.

Our chief executive Tim Hollingsworth was in Sheffield on Thursday to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South Yorkshire’s mayor, Oliver Coppard, and the chief executive of the region’s integrated care board, Gavin Boyle.

The agreement, similar the one we renewed in Greater Manchester last year, signals an ambitious, collaborative new approach to sport, physical activity, prevention and wellbeing across the local authority areas of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.

Sport England chief executive Tim Hollingsworth, South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard, and South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board CEO Gavin Boyle sign a memorandum of understanding at a table outside.

It sets out our shared intention to transform the health of local people, by embedding proactive health initiatives into everyday life – from schools and workplaces to transport and urban planning.

Tim was pleased to formally announce the new alliance, which complements our ongoing efforts to address inequalities in activity levels by working directly with communities to effect change on the ground.

"This partnership is a powerful demonstration of what can happen when we join forces at a regional level and look at challenges through the lens of whole-system change," Tim said.

"Our shared commitment to unlocking the role of movement, sport and physical activity will improve lives and strengthen communities across South Yorkshire."

Six areas of focus in South Yorkshire

The priorities outlined in the joint pledge for South Yorkshire align with our long-term Uniting the Movement vision to transform lives and communities through physical activity and sport.

Health

Making South Yorkshire a place where people live longer in good health, with sport and physical activity playing a central role in prevention and wellbeing.

Growth

Boosting the local economy by helping people succeed and supporting jobs and businesses in sport and physical activity.

Children and young people

Giving every child a great start in life with every school becoming an active school.

Walking, wheeling, scooting and cycling

Empowering people to travel actively every day to stay healthy and independent.

Communities

Creating safe, inclusive spaces where everyone feels confident being active and where sport helps connect people.

Innovation

Leading the way in developing new solutions that ensure sport and physical activity improve quality of life, especially for those facing the greatest inequalities.

A group of people including Sport England chief executive Tim Hollingsworth, South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard, and South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board CEO Gavin Boyle pose for a photo on a grassy area after the signing of a memorandum of understanding.

Our executive director for place, Lisa Dodd-Mayne, joined Tim for the announcement at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park and is looking forward to leading our next steps in the partnership.

"This MoU is more than a statement of intent – it’s a commitment to long-term, collaborative action that supports healthier lives and thriving places through the power of physical activity within local communities," Lisa said.

"We’re excited to be taking this step forward with South Yorkshire."

The agreement was accompanied by the launch of the UK’s first Sports Legacy Institute, a £5 million private-public partnership between the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and Westfield Health.

It will support the ambitions of the MoU by creating a centre of excellence for sports and health innovation within the Olympic Legacy Park, aimed at attracting inward investment to improve health outcomes in South Yorkshire.

More reaction

Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire

“In South Yorkshire, where you’re born can still determine how long you live. In some cases, that difference can be as much as 20 years. That’s not just unfair, it has to be unacceptable.

"That’s why I’ve said I want South Yorkshire to be the healthiest region in the country. But I can’t do that on my own. I need help from our communities, our public services, and our partners – like the brilliant teams at Sport England and Westfield Health.

"Today, we’re building on South Yorkshire’s proud legacy of sport, movement, and community spirit to bring that vision of a healthier South Yorkshire closer to reality; signing a new agreement with Sport England that puts physical activity and healthier lives right at the heart of our plan for prevention and wellbeing."

Gavin Boyle, CEO of South Yorkshire NHS Integrated Care Board

"This partnership is an important part of our commitment to improve the health of people living in South Yorkshire. By working together, we aim to make it easier for all of us to build more physical activity into our daily lives.

"Of course, this is about enabling people to take control of their own well-being and avoid ill health, but it’s also about laying the foundations for a more sustainable NHS.

"The partnership with SYMCA and Sport England and the creation of the Sport Legacy Institute reflects a bold, collaborative approach – one that shifts the focus from treatment to prevention, and from short-term fixes to long-term impact.

"It’s exactly the kind of innovation we need to fulfil our ambition to build a healthier, more resilient future for our communities."