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Official statistics: release schedules and pre-release lists

Our Active Lives Surveys and playing field figures are official government statistics and as such we're obligated to publish an official statistics release schedule for each data release.

Here, you will find the release schedules for reports published in 2022 and beyond.

Active Lives Adult

  • November 2021-22

    Sport England list of official statistics - last updated on 17 April 2023.

    Statistics

    Active Lives Adult Survey

    Physical Activity

    The percentage of the adult population who, over the course of a week are:

    • Active – 150 or more minutes a week;
    • Fairly active – 30-149 minutes a week;
    • Inactive – fewer than 30 minutes a week of physical activity.

    Activities

    The percentage of all adults, men and women who have taken part in different sports and activities at least twice in the last 28 days.

    Muscle strength

    The percentage of adults who report activities make their muscles feel some tension, shake or feel warm and carry out at least two sessions per week.  

    Volunteering

    This is measured as having given time to support sport and fitness activities in the last 12 months.

    Wellbeing, individual and community development

    Data on reported levels of mental wellbeing, individual development and social and community development in the context of participation and volunteering in sport and physical activity.

    Sports spectating

    This is measured as having watched two or more live sports events, whether professional or amateur, over the previous 12 months.

    Attitudes towards sport and physical activity

    The percentage of adults who strongly agree they have the ability and opportunity to be physically active, and the percentage of adults who strongly agree they find sport enjoyable and satisfying

    Responsible officer

    Andrew Spiers

    Data source

    Active Lives Survey November 2021/22

    Period

    2021/22: Period ending mid-November 2022

    Data received on

    31/01/2023

    Final statistics produced by

    18/04/2023

    Pre-release period

    19/04/2023

    Release date

    20/04/2023

    Pre-release access granted to

    Organisation Role
    Sport England

    Chair

      Executive Leadership Team (including interim roles)
      Director of strategy
      Strategic leads - customer insight, partnerships and investments, volunteering, place collaboration and learning team
      National partnerships lead - health and wellbeing
      Heads of - media relations, external affairs, social media
      Senior managers - external affairs, internal communications
      Press and communications assistant
      Social media executive
       
    Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport Secretary of State
      Permanent secretary (job-share)
      Assistant private secretary to the permanent secretary
      Private secretary to the Secretary of State
      Parliamentary Under Secretary of State - Minister for Sport, Tourism and Civil Society, and Minister for Equalities
      Assistant Private Sectretary to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State - Minister for Sport, Tourism and Civil Society, and Minister for Equalities
      Special advisor
      Head of participation, sport team
      Head of sport
      Communications officer
      Senior communications manager
      Sport England lead
      Senior analyst and economic adviser for sport
      Assistant economist
      Head of sport strategy
      Head of statistics
       
    Department for Transport Head of active travel statistics
      Senior analytical officer
    Read less
  • November 2020-21

    Sport England list of official statistics - last updated on 21 April 2022.

    Statistics

    Active Lives Adult Survey

    Physical Activity

    The percentage of the adult population who, over the course of a week are:

    • Active – 150 or more minutes a week;
    • Fairly active – 30-149 minutes a week;
    • Inactive – less than 30minutes a week of physical activity.

    Activities

    The percentage of all adults, men and women who have taken part in different sports and activities at least twice in the last 28 days.

    Muscle strength

    The percentage of adults who report activities make their muscles feel some tension, shake or feel warm and carry out at least two sessions per week.  

    Volunteering

    This is measured as having given time to support sport and fitness activities in the last 12 months.

    Wellbeing, individual and community development

    Data on reported levels of mental wellbeing, individual development and social and community development in the context of participation and volunteering in sport and physical activity.

    Sports spectating

    This is measured as having watched two or more live sports events, whether professional or amateur, over the previous 12 months.

    Responsible officer

    Andrew Spiers

    Data source

    Active Lives Survey November 2020/21

    Period

    2020/21: Period ending mid-November 2021

    Data received on

    01/02/2022

    Final statistics produced by

    26/04/2022

    Pre-release period

    27/04/2022

    Release date

    28/04/2022

    Pre-release access granted to

    Organisation Role
    Sport England

    Chair

      Executive Leadership Team (including interim roles)
      Director of strategy
      Strategic leads - strategy, customer insight, partnerships and investments, volunteering, local learning and improvement hub
      Heads of - media relations, external affairs
      Senior managers - external affairs, internal communications
      Press officer
      Social media executive
       
    Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport Secretary of State
      Permanent secretary
      Assistant private secretary to the permanent secretary
      Private secretary to the Secretary of State
      Minister for Sport, Tourism and Heritage
      Private secretary to the Minister for Sport, Tourism and Heritage
      Special advisor (x2)
      Private secretary to the special advisors
      Head of participation, sport team
      Senior policy advisor, sport participation
      Head of sport
      Head of news, DCMS comms
      Chief communications officer, DCMS comms
      Senior communications manager
      Head of economic statistics
      Lead statistician for surveys
      Senior analyst and economic adviser for sport
      Assistant economist
      Head of sport strategy
      Head of statistics
       
    Department for Transport Head of active travel statistics
      Statistical officer, active travel

     

    Read less

Active Lives Children and Young People

  • Academic Year 2022-23

    Sport England list of official statistics - last updated on 5 December 2023.

    Statistics

    Active Lives Adult Children and Young People Survey

    Physical Activity

    The percentage of children population who, over the course of a week are:

    • Active – an average of 60 minutes or more a day;
    • Fairly active – an average of 30-59 minutes a day;
    • Less active – an average of less than 30 minutes a day of physical activity.

    Activities

    The percentage of children who have taken part in different activities in the last week.

    Volunteering

    This is measured as having given time to support sport and fitness activities more than twice in the last 12 months.

    Wellbeing, individual and community development

    Data on reported levels of mental wellbeing, individual development and social and community development in the context of participation and volunteering in sport and physical activity.

    Physical literacy

    Data is reported on levels of enjoyment, confidence, competence, understanding and knowledge in relation to participation in sport and physical activity.

    Sport spectating

    This is measured as having watched two or more live sports events, whether
    professional or amateur, over the previous 12 months.

    Responsible officer

    Andrew Spiers

    Data source

    Active Lives Survey 2022/23

    Period

    2022/23: Academic Year 2022/23

    Data received on

    19/09/2023

    Final statistics produced by

    05/12/2023

    Pre-release period

    06/12/2023

    Release date

    07/12/2023

    Pre-release access granted to

    Organisation Role
    Sport England

    Chair

      Chief executive
      Executive directors - digital, marketing and communications, place, policy and integrity, chief financial officer
      Director of strategy
      Strategic leads - customer insight, volunteering, partnerships and investments, local learning and improvement hub
      Heads of - media relations, external affairs, social media, children and young people
      Senior manager - internal communications, external affairs
      Senior press officer
      Press and communications assistant
      Social media executive
       
    Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport Secretary of State
      Permanent secretary
      Private secretary to the permanent secretary
      Private secretary to the Secretary of State
      Parliamentary under secretary of state - Minister for Sport, Tourism and Civil Society, Minister for Equalities
      Assistant private secretary - Minister for Sport, Tourism and Civil Society, Minister for Equalities
      Special advisor
      Senior policy advisor - children and young people
      Head of participation, sport team
      Head of sport
      Communications officer
      Senior communications manager
      Senior analyst and economic adviser for sport
      Head of sport strategy
      Head of statistics
       
    Department for Education Secretaty of State
      Private secretary to the Secretary of State
      Minister for Schools
      Private secretary to Minister for Schools
      Communications and policy special advisor (x2)
      Head of pupil physical education and mental wellbeing
      Policy lead
      Policy officer
      SCS policy clearance
      Analyst - lead, team leader, analyst
      Media officer (x2)
       
    Department of Health and Social Care Policy lead, physical activity
      Head of physical activity
      Strategy and engagement policy lead
    Read less
  • Academic year 2021-22

    Sport England list of official statistics - last updated on 5 December 2022.

    Statistics

    Active Lives Adult Children and Young People Survey

    Physical Activity

    The percentage of children population who, over the course of a week are:

    • Active – an average of 60 minutes or more a day;
    • Fairly active – an average of 30-59 minutes a day;
    • Less active – an average of less than 30 minutes a day of physical activity.

    Activities

    The percentage of children who have taken part in different activities in the last week.

    Volunteering

    This is measured as having given time to support sport and fitness activities more than twice in the last 12 months.

    Wellbeing, individual and community development

    Data on reported levels of mental wellbeing, individual development and social and community development in the context of participation and volunteering in sport and physical activity.

    Physical literacy

    Data is reported on levels of enjoyment, confidence, competence, understanding and knowledge in relation to participation in sport and physical activity.

    Sport spectating

    This is measured as having watched two or more live sports events, whether
    professional or amateur, over the previous 12 months.

    Responsible officer

    Andrew Spiers

    Data source

    Active Lives Survey 2021/22

    Period

    2021/22: Academic Year 2021/22

    Data received on

    26/09/2022

    Final statistics produced by

    06/12/2022

    Pre-release period

    07/12/2022

    Release date

    08/12/2022

    Pre-release access granted to

    Organisation Role
    Sport England

    Chair

      Chief executive
      Executive directors - digital, marketing and communications, place, policy and integrity, interim chief financial officer
      Director of strategy
      Strategic leads - strategy, partnerships and investments, volunteering, children and young people
      Heads of - media relations, external affairs, social media, customer insight
      Senior manager - internal communications
      Press officer
      Press and communications assistant
      External affairs officer
       
    Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport Secretary of State
      Permanent secretary
      Assistant private secretary to the permanent secretary
      Private secretary to the Secretary of State
      Parliamentary under secretary of state - Minister for Sport, Tourism and Civil Society, Minister for Equalities
      Assistant private secretary - Minister for Sport, Tourism and Civil Society, Minister for Equalities
      Special advisor
      Senior policy advisor - children and young people
      Head of participation, sport team
      Head of sport
      Chief communications officer, DCMS comms
      Senior communications manager
      Senior analyst and economic adviser for sport
      Head of sport strategy
      Head of statistics
       
    Department for Education Secretaty of State
      Private secretary to the Secretary of State
      Minister for School Standards
      Private secretary to Minister for School Standards
      Special advisor (x3)
      Policy lead
      Deputy policy lead
      SCS policy clearance
      Analyst - lead, team leader, SCS clearance, analyst
      Media officer (x2)
       
    Department of Health and Social Care National programme manager - physical activity
      National lead - physical activity and healthy weight
    Read less

Playing field statistics

  • 2021/22

    Sport England list of official statistics - last updated on 5 December 2023.

    Statistics

    Playing field statistics

    Number of applications

    The total number of statutory planning applications affecting playing fields.

    Determined applications

    The total number of statutory planning applications affecting playing fields that have been determined.

    Responsible officer

    Nick Evans

    Data source

    PIMS/DLUHC referrals

    Period

    2021/22

    Data received on

    30/11/2023

    Final statistics produced by

    08/12/2023

    Pre-release period

    11/12/2023

    Release date

    12/12/2023

    Pre-release access granted to

    Organisation Role
    Sport England Chair
      Chief executive
      Executive director for place
      Strategic lead for communications
      Heads of planning and active environments, planning operations, media, public affairs, digital and content
      Press and communications assistant
      External affairs officer
       
    Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport Head of sport participation
      Policy advisor for sport participation
       
    Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Nominated officer - planning directorate
       
    Department for Education Head of planning
       
    School Playing Fields Advisory Panel Chair
    Read less
  • 2020/21

    Sport England list of official statistics - last updated on 5 December 2022.

    Statistics

    Playing field statistics

    Number of applications

    The total number of statutory planning applications affecting playing fields.

    Determined applications

    The total number of statutory planning applications affecting playing fields that have been determined.

    Responsible officer

    Nick Evans

    Data source

    PADS/CLG-Go referrals

    Period

    2020/21

    Data received on

    November 2022

    Final statistics produced by

    11/12/2022

    Pre-release period

    12/12/2022

    Release date

    13/12/2022

    Pre-release access granted to

    Organisation Role
    Sport England Chair
      Chief executive
      Heads of media, public affairs, digital and content
      Senior media officer
      External affairs officer
       
    Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport Head of sport
      Senior press officer
      Senior policy advisor
       
    Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Nominated officer
       
    Department for Education Nominated officer
       
    Partnership for Schools Nominated officer
       
    School Playing Fields Advisory Panel Chair
    Read less

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