Yesterday we published the final report for Impact ’25 programme, our Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 legacy programme.
The programme was delivered by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in partnership with the UK government, Sport England and UK Sport.
Backed by £14.55 million of government investment, and driven by the incredible commitment of clubs, volunteers, coaches, match officials and players, Impact '25 has helped transform opportunities for women and girls across England.
It goes without saying that a key strand of the work was getting more women and girls into playing rugby. But that wasn’t our only focus.
We wanted to encourage and support more women to get into coaching, match official and leadership positions, and to invest in club facilities to improve the experiences for women and girls involved in rugby.
We also aimed to use the opportunity of the World Cup to connect communities and welcome new fans to the sport we love and to support the development of high-performance pathways in Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
We wanted to transform the sport for women and girls.
Around 40,000 girls aged six to 12 were introduced to rugby.
Girls' club participation has increased by 49%, growing from around 18,000 to 26,800 players, and women's participation at supported universities has risen by 38%.
More than 5,400 coaching and match official courses have been completed by women, with nearly a third funded through Impact '25.
Women now account for 28% of newly qualified coaches and match officials, compared to just 9% before the programme, and the number completing advanced coaching and refereeing qualifications has increased more than five-fold.
Thanks to the programme, 607 clubs received 1,078 facility grants between them.
These grants were used to develop or upgrade changing rooms, upgrade toilets, refurbish social spaces, enhance female sanitary provisions at clubs, or to make other improvements that could create a more female-friendly club environment.
These things really matter as they directly impact the experiences of women and girls involved in the sport and their sense of belonging.
We also aimed to use the opportunity of the World Cup to connect communities and welcome new fans to the sport we love and to support the development of high-performance pathways in Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
There is a huge amount to celebrate with Impact ’25. But we can’t stop there.
Through Every Rose: Our Time, the RFU's five-year action plan published shortly after last year’s Women’s World Cup, we set an ambitious target of reaching 100,000 active female players by 2030, including 70,000 club-registered players.
Last year, almost 48,000 women and girls were playing at rugby clubs across England, and now schools, colleges and universities will play a critical role in reaching that ambition in the next four years.
Our growing workforce across the education sector is introducing more young people to the game through T1 Rugby, an accessible non-contact format that retains the unique characteristics of rugby union while providing an easy entry point into the sport.
Partnerships with organisations such as Scouts and Guides are helping us reach new audiences, while the growth in girls' and women's sections at rugby clubs means there are now more opportunities than ever for participants to continue their rugby journey.
Alongside participation growth, we are committed to ensuring women and girls can thrive in the game.
And our work on female health and wellbeing continues to develop.
This summer we announced a landmark partnership with Women in Sport and became the first major British sport to launch a standalone anti-sexism and misogyny policy, part of a broader commitment to making rugby safer, more inclusive and more welcoming.
The success of Impact '25, and what’s been happening since, demonstrate what can be achieved when different organisations and the wider community game come together behind a shared vision to drive the women’s and girls’ games forward.
We’re hugely grateful to Sport England for their involvement in Impact ’25 and value their ongoing support.
There remains huge potential in women’s and girls’ rugby, and we must not take our foot off the pedal.
Last week I finally plucked up courage to have my BioAge measured at an EGYM showroom by St Paul's Cathedral, London.
I still have an inbuilt phobia of getting things checked out, even when there’s nothing to worry about, and I was very pleased to learn that my BioAge (that is how old my organs are compared to the numbers of birthdays I've celebrated so far) is in fact 37-years-old – a good 16 years younger than my actual age.
By coincidence, 37 was the exact age when I started my fitness journey.
Having not exercised since school, I’d gradually put on a few pounds every year and a heath check had told me I was on the borderline of being obese.
I’d signed up my old team at 20th Century Fox to an ambitious team challenge – to climb 20 peaks across the Lake District over 20 hours – and didn’t want to be the 'overweight managing director' holding people back!
And just as that experience was the kick off for me, this National Fitness Day we’re looking to welcome millions to start, or restart, their fitness journey.
Reflecting on the EGYM experience, there’s so much more to fitness than simply losing weight and also so many ways to measure success.
There’s strength, mobility and, most importantly, how you feel both physically and mentally.
These days we have the technology and insight to help people with personalised training plans that are right for them, and with so many ways to get moving.
A few weeks ago, I was inspired by a member of the team who’d taken his daughter on her first parkrun, and I decided to take may own teenage daughter out for her debut parkrun in Cheltenham.
It was great to see such an eclectic range of people out early(ish) on a Saturday morning, to run without fear of judgement or failure, just to be out there being active.
This National Fitness Day we’re looking to welcome millions to start, or restart, their fitness journey.
Our research shows that any form of activity – be that walking or short workouts at home – significantly increases people’s confidence in their physical health, and their intent to join a health club, gym or leisure centre.
Plus our latest consumer polling shows that sense of community, connection and friendship is also found in our nation’s gyms and leisure centres, across all generations.
Of course, it’s the first step that can be the hardest, followed by the consistency needed to turn those first efforts into regular, life-long habits.
Our industry has many great pathways so activity levels are slowly trending upwards, but activity is unequally distributed with many barriers still existing.
These barriers can be cost and convenience, but they exist in areas super served by facilities as well as those where they’re few and far between.
The biggest barrier is in the mind – it's the uncertainty about where to start, the fear of not fitting in and the gap between wanting to change and actually showing up. National Fitness Day exists to collapse that gap.
This year we're working with organisations across the sector, as well as schools, community groups, employers and others to make that first step easy, fun and frictionless.
Free taster sessions, beginner-friendly groups, times that fit real life – all ‘Powered by You’, our theme for this year.
Because that's what National Fitness Day is for – not for people who've already decided they're fit, but for the millions like my 16-year-younger self who have a reason to be active but are looking for a way to start.
If you've been thinking about it, this is the week! This is the perfect time to take that first step.
A lot can happen in seven years. That was the last time the UK Chief Medical Officer (CMO) physical activity guidelines were updated and the context then was very different.
Boris Johnson became Prime Minister, England women’s World Cup semi-final was the most-watched television broadcast of the year, Greggs launched a meat-free version of its sausage roll and, of course, we were pre-pandemic.
Importantly, data from the 2019-20 Active Lives Adult Survey results highlighted 62.8% of the population achieved recommended activity guidelines, with 25.5% being physically inactive (if you’re wondering, this compares to 64.6% ‘active’ and 24.7% ‘inactive’ respectively in the latest 2024-25 Active Lives Adults Survey results, which look at data from the November 2024-25 period).
Updated from the 2011 version, the 2019 guidelines introduced guidance for pregnancy, postnatal activity and disabled adults, plus it enhanced messages on muscle-strengthening, balance and flexibility.
It also made clear that all movement counts – an idea that was summed up by the simple yet powerful “some is good, more is better”.
Whilst you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone that doesn’t agree that being active is good for you, navigating the various physical activity messages – particularly for those who do little or no activity at all – has remained a communicative hurdle for many.
But growing evidence and collaborative momentum over recent years is helping drive a systemic, positive shift away from ‘why physical activity?’ towards ‘how do we make it easier for everyone?’
And this brings me nicely onto the 2026 refreshed guidelines, published in the summer.
Well, we should view this refresh as an evolution rather than revolution. Let me explain.
Whilst a significant amount of new scientific literature has been published since 2019, it’s important to highlight that this evidence has primarily served to reinforce existing core activity recommendations and, therefore, these broadly remain the same.
Guidelines retain a life-course approach: under 5s, children and young people aged 5-18, adults aged 19-64 and older adults aged 65+.
The evidence has strengthened our understanding of the health benefits of being active and has helped refine activity messages with the aim to be more usable and inclusive. There is also a renewed emphasis on:
Whilst familiar, this refined messaging points to a heightened importance of activity for those who do little or no activity at all, exactly where the health and wellbeing benefits are greatest.
The evidence has strengthened our understanding of the health benefits of being active and has helped refine activity messages with the aim to be more usable and inclusive.
The evidence underpinning the guidelines continues to make the case for physical activity’s value being optimised when undertaking a combination of aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity.
Moreover, data tells us those achieving higher levels of regular activity often do so through a combination of activity types woven throughout the week, helping build a resilient activity habit.
To help with communicating the refreshed guidelines, the suite of infographics available has been updated too.
So, whilst core activity guidelines remain consistent with 2019, we can have greater confidence in the underpinning evidence, associated health benefits (even through small increases and light-intensity activity) and messages to convey.
With all of these points in mind and as we consider the updated guidelines, let’s not forget about ourselves and how we role-model activity behaviours.
A walk in nature in the morning or in our lunch breaks, or a game of frisbee in the park with family, friends or colleagues are all examples of ways to add movement into our daily routines. It all adds up and there’s never a bad time to move.
Have you ever wondered what may help someone feel like they belong in sport? This may sound like a simple question, but the answer is often deeply personal.
For some, it's feeling welcome when they arrive; for others, it's seeing people who share similar experiences, cultures or backgrounds to them. And sometimes, it's simply knowing that a space was designed with them in mind.
The Asian Sports Foundation (ASF) recently announced a new partnership with parkrun UK, which is built around a shared commitment to better understanding the experiences of Asian communities and exploring how more people can feel connected to physical activity.
We know that sport and physical activity can have a powerful impact on our health, wellbeing and sense of community.
But Sport England's latest Active Lives Adult Survey highlights that participation levels among some South Asian communities remain lower than the national average, and that health inequalities continue to exist.
While data can help us understand trends, it does not always tell us why people choose not to participate, what challenges they experience, or what would encourage them to get involved.
That is why the focus of this partnership is not to assume solutions, but to listen.
Over the coming months, ASF and parkrun will work together to engage with people from Asian communities, gathering insights and lived experiences to better understand what helps people feel welcome, what barriers may exist, and what opportunities there are to create more inclusive environments.
Parkrun has become a familiar part of many communities across the UK.
Every Saturday morning, thousands of people come together to run, walk, volunteer and connect with others.
Yet experiences of physical activity can vary significantly from one person to another, as what feels accessible and welcoming for some may feel unfamiliar or intimidating for others.
Understanding those differences is essential if we want to create opportunities that genuinely work for everyone.
At ASF, we believe that increasing participation starts with understanding communities, not speaking on their behalf.
By putting ‘listening’ first, we can help ensure that future actions are informed by the people they are intended to support.
Experiences of physical activity can vary significantly from one person to another, as what feels accessible and welcoming for some may feel unfamiliar or intimidating for others.
The CEO of ASF, Shazia Ali, has worked in the research industry for nearly 30 years and champions the importance of hearing real human stories to ensure that real people and communities are behind strategies developed.
For instance, for Raheema Mamodo, joining parkrun led to a sense of connection she wasn't expecting.
Her first parkrun experience was for her graduation run at the end of Couch to 5K and she confessed she had "no idea of what to expect when the run leader suggested we attend".
Raheema mentioned it felt “overwhelming” being surrounded by runners, yet she felt welcomed straight away and loved all the cheering from fellow participants.
They made her feel like she belonged in that space too and she's carried on attending parkrun since that first event over seven years ago.
Having recently achieved her 250-parkrun milestone, Raheema's experience highlights the powerful role that welcoming environments can play in helping people stay active.
South Asian Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate the rich contribution of South Asian communities across the UK.
It is also an opportunity to listen, learn and better understand how sport and physical activity can be more inclusive for everyone.
ASF and parkrun are at the beginning of that journey.
By working alongside communities, hearing different perspectives and learning from lived experiences, we hope to build a stronger understanding of what belonging in physical activity really means and how more people can be supported to take part in ways that work for them.
Because lasting change starts with listening and, by walking together, we go further.
Our position statement highlights the vital role sport and physical activity can play in delivering local growth, prevention and wellbeing ambitions, as greater decision-making powers are transferred to communities.
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Silent Steppers is a joyful blend of walking, dancing and mindset coaching, all delivered outdoors through silent-disco headsets.
Picture a mixed group of around 50 people moving along seaside promenades, parks and coastal walkways – everyone listening to the same uplifting music while receiving real-time encouragement, positivity and coaching through their headphones.
It’s energetic, inclusive and completely different to traditional indoor exercise. And so much fun, too!
What began as a personal healing tool has evolved into a community movement that people across the UK now travel to to experience.
Often taking 10,000 steps in an hour or simply letting the music lift their mood, us Steppers leave the session feeling lighter, stronger and more connected to ourselves, and to each other.
Silent Steppers actually started during one of the hardest chapters of my life. After suffering a trauma, I found myself walking outdoors to clear my mind.
On these walks, I’d listen to music and quickly realised how the world softened inside that musical bubble.
The lyrics felt more meaningful, my thoughts slowed down and, for a short time, I could switch off from everything I was carrying on my shoulders.
Picture a mixed group of around 50 people moving along seaside promenades, parks and coastal walkways – everyone listening to the same uplifting music while receiving real-time encouragement, positivity and coaching through their headphones.
With a background as a qualified dance teacher, senior mental health lead and life coach among others, and with over 25 years teaching trauma-informed approaches, I invited a few colleagues to join me for a music-assisted walk.
I chose songs that helped me heal, put on the headset mic and coached them through the session.
The effect was instant. The energy was electric. Silent Steppers was born!
Fast forward under a year and Silent Steppers now has hundreds of participants every week that include children, right through to our oldest Stepper aged 83.
We train in all weather – rain, wind, sun and/or coastal gales – and the tougher the conditions, the more bonded the group becomes.
Alongside our main sessions, we now run Steady Steppers, a slower-paced, mobility-friendly version designed for those with disabilities, injuries, chronic conditions or lower fitness levels.
These sessions offer the same music, the same mindset coaching and the same sense of achievement, just at a pace that feels safe and accessible for everyone involved.
The physical and mental impact across both groups has been extraordinary and participants have reported improvements of different kinds like weight loss, better fitness levels, plus better balance, coordination and confidence.
Others have mentioned being able to return to exercise after cancer treatment or joint replacements, a reduced reliance on mental health medication (always under GP guidance), stronger mobility and the ability to jog for the first time in years, and, overall, significant improvements in mood, stress levels and wellbeing.
And if all of that wasn’t enough, overwhelmingly, people describe Silent Steppers as their escape – an hour where they can lose themselves, breathe differently and feel part of something special.
Taking Silent Steppers into outdoor public spaces has created something truly magical.
We dance-walk along promenades, move through parks, train beside the sea and often stop people in their tracks who just smile when they see us.
Week after week, members of the public pause to watch us, cheer us on, take photos or even start dancing as we pass. People tell us we’ve made their day, how amazing we look or how we lift their mood.
Many now recognise us and come back each week just to see us in action because our group's energy is infectious.
These interactions have become part of the heartbeat of Silent Steppers, and proof that movement and joy ripple far beyond the people wearing the headsets.
I must admit, however, that with popularity comes challenges.
We only have 60 headsets, which means waiting lists of 25+ people are becoming common.
I’m also frequently asked to run sessions across the UK – and even internationally – but with existing commitments, it simply isn’t possible.
However, I’ve now excitedly trademarked licensing training that'll launch in the new year, which will create opportunities for Silent Steppers leaders in towns and cities nationwide.
There are other key lessons we’ve also learned:
The combination of music, scenery, encouragement and community creates an empowering, accessible and inclusive atmosphere that translates into a wellbeing experience unlike any other.
It fills me with pride that what started as a personal coping mechanism has now grown into a nationwide wellbeing model, supporting hundreds every week.
I also love that Silent Steppers is reshaping how people view exercise, mental health and community connection.
Silent Steppers is proving that exercise can be enjoyable at any age and ability. One dance step at a time.
The latest data indicate our role as a statutory consultee saw 94% of all concluded planning applications involving playing fields result in the protection or improvement of facilities.
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The latest figures come from the second year of our social value model, which also shows a potential extra £20 billion of social value available by tackling inequalities.
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The figures come from our latest Moving Communities report, which also shows an increase in women using the facilities, quality of facilities and highlights their value to society.
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Movement has always been more than exercise for me.
My first motivation was staying healthy and trying to stave off hereditary diseases like hypertension and diabetes that run in my family (and, so far, I'm happy to say it has worked!).
But movement quickly became my outlet, my reminder that I am alive, capable and able to set goals.
When I lace up my trainers and step outside, I am not only moving my body. I am moving through history, community and identity, and I am claiming me. I do this for me.
This year the theme for Black History Month is ‘Standing Firm in Power and Pride’, highlighting the resilience and contributions of the Black community, and I am reminded that movement has long been a form of resistance, survival and celebration for Black people.
From dance to sport, movement has always been our way of claiming space, telling stories and showing strength and, for me, running is my chosen form of movement. It gives me freedom, resilience, and connection – three qualities that shape how I live and lead.
Growing up, I saw elite athletes who looked like me on TV, but I did not see everyday women like me running.
Running was not something I thought belonged to me as an adult (child me, yes, because children always run), but the first time I tried it outside as an adult, something shifted – it was not about speed or medals, it was about finding a rhythm that was mine.
Over the years, running has carried me through joy and pain.
It has helped me navigate life’s challenges, from grief and motherhood to menopause and leadership, and it has also changed how I see myself, not as the fastest or the best, but as someone who shows up, puts one foot in front of the other and keeps going.
This year the theme for Black History Month is ‘Standing Firm in Power and Pride’, highlighting the resilience and contributions of the Black community, and I am reminded that movement has long been a form of resistance, survival and celebration for Black people.
Running has also shown me how much representation matters.
There have been times I felt invisible at races or out of place in running communities, but when I began sharing my story and weaving my Jamaican heritage into my running, I discovered others felt the same – and that, by stepping forward, I could help them feel seen.
That is why I am proud to be part of the advisory board for This Girl Can.
For the Phase Six of the campaign, we have focused on showing women as they truly are: sweaty, busy, imperfect and joyful.
Not polished versions of women exercising effortlessly, but showing real women making time for movement in the midst of their busy lives.
Being on the advisory board has given me the chance to share my perspective, especially around the barriers that Black women face in sport.
From worries about hair care, to feeling unsafe in certain spaces, to simply not seeing ourselves represented, these are real issues that stop many of us from moving freely.
Phase Six is about breaking those barriers down and telling a wider story of who belongs in movement.
This new stage of the campaign is also about making sure that when women see the campaign, they see someone who looks like them, lives like them and feels like them. Because when you can see yourself, you start to believe you belong.
In 2019, I founded Black Girls Do Run UK.
What began as a small idea, creating space for a handful of Black women to run together, has grown into a nationwide community, because we are more than a running group. We are a family!
We celebrate milestones, we share struggles and, more than anything, we create spaces where Black women can move without judgement or stereotype.
Alongside leading the community, I hold both the Leadership in Running Fitness and Coaching in Running Fitness qualifications.
These have allowed me to support runners of all abilities, from beginners to those chasing big milestones, and to bring structured, safe and inclusive coaching into our spaces.
For us, running is not about chasing times, and all about creating a memory bank, not metrics.
It is about laughing mid-race, stopping for photos and supporting each other at the back of the pack. It is about belonging.
Black Girls Do Run UK exists because representation matters.
Too often, Black women are absent from the imagery of running, but by showing up in our kit at races and online, we are rewriting that narrative. We are saying we are here, we run and we belong!
For me, movement is freedom. It is the freedom to be myself, to take up space and to live well in my body and during Black History Month, that freedom feels especially powerful.
We honour the struggles of those before us, celebrate the present and move with hope for those who will come after because movement connects past, present and future.
It reminds us that while the barriers are real, so is our resilience, and it proves that when women move, communities move and change becomes possible.
So this Black History Month, I celebrate movement in all its forms: the steps, the strides, the miles and the memories. Movement has shaped me, and I will keep moving, for myself, for my community, and for the generations yet to come.
National Fitness Day is a wonderful celebration of the joy of movement, but also a rallying call – a reminder that if more people, from every walk of life, are moving more often, the benefits ripple far beyond the individual.
Sport England’s central mission is for everyone to enjoy the life-changing benefits of sport and physical activity.
And those benefits are profound; being active prevents 1.3 million cases of depression, 900,000 cases of back pain, 600,000 cases of type 2 diabetes, 150,000 cases of coronary heart disease and 100,000 strokes each year.
Active lives boost the economy too, saving £10.5bn a year in health and care costs and reducing pressure on our overburdened NHS.
But behind the numbers are real people. Active children are happier, more confident, and perform better academically.
Active adults take 27% fewer sick days, leading healthier, more productive lives.
For those living with mental health conditions, the impact of exercise is especially striking: ukactive’s new Mental Health in Motion report shows that 72% say being active helps them stay in work and avoid sickness absence.
Yet we still face an inactivity crisis.
A quarter of the population in England does fewer than 30 minutes of physical activity a week.
Sport England’s central mission is for everyone to enjoy the life-changing benefits of sport and physical activity.
The evidence above demonstrates that is not just a health issue – it’s a social and economic one as well.
With 2.5 million people out of work due to poor health, the cost to the UK economy is over £100 billion a year. So, the challenge is huge – but so is the opportunity.
National Fitness Day is about meeting that challenge head-on, by showing people that being active can fit into their lives, whatever their age, background or ability.
From spin classes to swimming, from walking football to yoga, there’s something for everyone.
It’s also a chance to celebrate the people who make these experiences possible: the instructors, coaches, lifeguards, volunteers and staff who open the doors of their facilities to millions every week.
In 2024 alone, there were over 600 million visits to gyms, pools and fitness clubs across the UK – and a record 11.5 million people are now members.
At Sport England, we’re proud to back National Fitness Day.
Through our strategy Uniting the Movement, we’re working with more than 150 partners to break down barriers, close the inequality gap in activity (worth £15.6 billion a year to the economy on its own if it can be addressed), and target investment where it can have the greatest impact.
That means supporting grassroots facilities; putting movement at the heart of every school day, because habits built in childhood last a lifetime; and embedding physical activity across government policy – from prevention-first healthcare to workplace wellbeing.
And crucially, it means ensuring that the fitness and leisure sector – the backbone of National Fitness Day – continues to thrive.
We know the pressures the sector faces but we also know the immense value it creates, and therefore Sport England will continue to work with ukactive and its members to ensure that gyms, pools, clubs and community fitness spaces remain central to the nation’s health and wellbeing.
These facilities are lifelines for our communities, facilitating social connection and bringing people together to boost their physical and mental health
As I’ve stepped into this role, what has struck me perhaps more than anything else is that none of what we do is achieved by one organisation alone.
National Fitness Day shows what’s possible when we come together as a movement, powered by the organisations and people who believe in the vision of a healthier and happier life for all – regardless of background, bank balance or postcode.
So, whether you’re hosting a free gym class, joining a taster session, having a dip at the pool, cheering on your child at their dance class, or simply going for a walk – you are part of something bigger.
You are helping to build a healthier, happier, more resilient nation.
In 2020 we looked for innovative solutions to support those most affected by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and offered support (financial and non-financial) to ensure that they could continue with it.
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We’ve invested a further £700,000 in the sector-wide initiative that aims to make it easier for people to find opportunities to get active through better use of data.
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For more than 10 years, I’ve had the privilege of being part of a partnership between Sport England and the National Trust that’s been quietly but powerfully changing lives.
This is more than just getting people outdoors – it’s about creating real, lasting opportunities for everyone, especially those who need it most, to connect with nature and feel the benefits of being active in green and blue spaces.
Being outdoors and connected to nature has demonstrable health and wellbeing benefits.
Studies have shown impact such as lowering stress levels and reducing cortisol and inflammation, which are increasingly seen as factors in depression, autoimmune diseases and cancer.
Our work at the National Trust is shifting towards a more ‘place-based’ approach, but what exactly do we mean by that?
Rather than parachuting in with one-size-fits-all solutions, we’re considering what’s already happening in local communities, at National Trust properties and on their land, and finding ways to make those spaces more accessible, more welcoming and more connected to the people who live nearby.
This is more than just getting people outdoors – it’s about creating real, lasting opportunities for everyone, especially those who need it most, to connect with nature and feel the benefits of being active in green and blue spaces.
Whilst we consider how to be more locally responsive, we continue to work at a national scale on initiatives such as improving navigational and orientation signage to ensure paths are easy to find and follow, and refining path-grading methodologies to better reflect the diversity of users.
This work focuses on describing the path itself rather than the person using it and it goes in line with the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) principles and the Equality Act.
What I love about our work is that it’s about making meaningful connections between the land and the community.
It’s not just about trails or facilities – it’s about creating safe, natural, traffic-free environments where people can walk, cycle, run, paddle or simply be.
I’ve seen firsthand how many barriers can stand in the way of people accessing the outdoors.
Things like fear of getting lost, finding themselves in unfamiliar terrain, safety concerns, challenges around travelling to our places or just not knowing where to start.
We’ve worked hard to design experiences that support people who are new to the outdoors and it’s making a real difference.
For that we’ve been able to capitalise on the strength of the National Trust brand.
Our properties are trusted spaces, with essential facilities like cafés and toilets, which makes them perfect for families, groups or individuals who might be taking their first steps into nature.
The multi-use trails that have been developed are a great example. They’re accessible, enjoyable and range from three to 5km, which makes them ideal for walking, wheeling, running or cycling.
And the impact has been incredible!
We’ve seen a 23% rise in visits from people of ethnic backgrounds, which indicates we’re reaching new audiences and helping more people feel like they belong in these spaces.
This is fantastic news since we strive to improve the experience for communities that often find barriers to exploring the great outdoors.
I’ve also been inspired by the way this work helps those who may need deeper support.
Whether it’s supported paddling sessions, inclusive activities for families with SEN, or community-led cycling groups like the Muslim Cycle Sisters at Osterley, there’s a real commitment to inclusion.
And it’s not just about participation but about representation, too.
The Trust is working with partners to tackle underrepresentation in the outdoor workforce, for example through our walking leaders programme, which is such an important step toward long-term change.
Nature restoration and biodiversity play a big part in our work.
Our infrastructure developments are designed to improve visitor experience and get people active whilst protecting some of the most sensitive nature areas.
We are strengthening our knowledge and skills in designing experiences that deliver real, meaningful and lasting nature connection to inspire more people to care for nature and their local environment.
As I reflect on the past decade, I feel proud of what we’ve achieved and even more hopeful about what’s to come.
Our partnership with Sport England shows that when we focus on people, place and purpose, we can create spaces that are not only beautiful, but truly inclusive and life-enhancing.
And that’s something worth building on.
There has never been more opportunity for young people with a disability to access and thrive in cricket.
In my short time as Chair of Lord’s Taverners, I’ve been privileged to witness the transformative power of our disability cricket programmes, not just for the young people who take part, but for their families, schools, and communities.
These experiences aren’t just inspirational, they are life-changing.
The need for our work has never been greater. That’s why I’m proud to be leading an organisation committed to making cricket the UK’s most inclusive team sport. And few moments capture that ambition more powerfully than the recent Disability Cricket Day at Lord’s.
This landmark event, delivered in partnership with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), and with the support of Sport England, was far more than a celebration of cricket. It was a bold statement of inclusion.
Together, we opened not just the gates of the Home of Cricket, but doors for thousands of young people across the country – offering a glimpse of what is possible when barriers are removed, and potential is given room to grow.
From grassroots to elite, the day showcased the full spectrum of disability cricket. This was the largest celebration of its kind and a testament to what can be achieved when organisations unite with a shared purpose.
Stakeholders from across the sporting landscape, disability advocates, educators and representatives from international cricketing nations gathered to witness and discuss how we can continue to evolve and grow the game.
There were moments of pride and passion throughout, not least in the conference sessions exploring inclusion across junior, recreational and elite levels. We heard directly from young people whose lives have been transformed through cricket. Their voices – often underrepresented – helped underline why inclusive sport isn’t a luxury or a bonus. It’s a necessity.
One of the day’s highlights was our own Lord’s Taverners’ National Table Cricket Finals, where 12 regional champions competed at Lord’s after a nationwide series involving hundreds of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) schools from across the UK during the previous six months.
Table Cricket – a brilliantly adapted, fully inclusive version of the game – opens up a world of opportunity for young people with a wide range of learning and physical disabilities. It helps build confidence, foster independence and teach vital teamwork and leadership skills – all within the joy and discipline of sport.
To see these young athletes compete on the same day and at the same venue as their elite counterparts was incredibly powerful.
Together, we opened not just the gates of the Home of Cricket, but doors for thousands of young people across the country – offering a glimpse of what is possible when barriers are removed, and potential is given room to grow.
The event closed with history being made: the first ever international disability cricket fixture played on the main ground at Lord’s, a mixed-disability T20 between England and India. It was a moment that united grassroots passion with elite aspiration, showing every young person in attendance what’s possible.
This remarkable alignment – national youth competition and elite international showcase, side-by-side – is a beacon for what sport can be when inclusion is placed at its heart. It’s a demonstration of the pathway that exists and is strengthening year-on-year for cricketers with a disability, and a reminder of the importance of representation. Because when young people see others like themselves competing at the highest level, they begin to believe: this is for me, too.
The success of the day was only possible because of the strong partnership between the ECB, MCC, and the Lord’s Taverners – a spirit that reflects Sport England’s Uniting the Movement strategy. Together, we’re not only creating unforgettable moments; we’re laying the foundations for long-term change.
Cricket – like all sport – holds the power to change lives. But that power is only realised when it’s accessible to all. Too many young people with a disability still face barriers: lack of opportunities, inaccessible environments, or simply not seeing themselves reflected on the field. The message they hear can all too often be: this isn’t for you.
At the Lord’s Taverners, we are here to change that.
And thanks to events like Disability Cricket Day – and the partnerships that make them possible – we’re showing that our sport can lead the way in making inclusion not just a principle, but a reality.
We'll work with the charity to better support pregnant women and new mums to be active and reduce inequalities in their activity levels.
Gender
Tackling inactivity
It’s been just over a month since the 10 Year Health Plan was published – a key milestone in the government’s commitment to create an NHS fit for the future.
It’s taken me time to navigate the headline ambitions, shifts in language, structural implications and, critically, what this all means for physical activity. There are 160 pages to get through, after all…
There’s lots to unpick and this post from the Medical Consulting Group includes a visual that usefully summarises the key points.
For patients, it’s a positive and empowering tone, underpinned by a digital revolution and receiving care closer to home.
With Neighbourhood Health a cornerstone of the Plan and elected mayors playing a greater role in prevention, combined with Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution, this all presents big opportunities to align with Sport England’s investment into communities that need it most.
Well, there were multiple references, including:
Since publication, much commentary has reflected that the Plan could have gone further in utilising physical activity’s preventative powers.
It’s true: the evidence and opportunity for impact at scale are significant. I have two glass-half-full thoughts on this:
Below are five opportunities that could deliver significant impact, particularly for those who do little or no activity (where health and economic gains are the greatest), those at risk of or living with long-term health conditions and those out of work due to poor health (including the NHS workforce).
As with any emergent thinking, I’m also holding questions...
An excellent opportunity to connect people with local physical activity that works for their holistic needs.
Whilst finding ways to move is about more than structured or organised activity, there’s a diverse asset and activity offer in almost every neighbourhood to connect with, build trust in and enable frictionless access into.
Work co-led by the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine alongside the Active Partnership National Organisation can help make this a reality.
Additionally, could co-located services, often including leisure provision alongside GP practices, become neighbourhood health centres?
Physical activity must be embedded within the evolving NHS app – leaning into behavioural science and AI to ensure people get the level of support they need.
There’s lots of great work to build upon – for example, the ORCHA-accredited We Are Undefeatable app.
Interoperability of data systems can help target the least active, empower decision-making and better understand local opportunities and demonstrate impact.
The Open Data Institute’s recent white paper makes the case for better use of physical activity data.
Increased use of anti-obesity medicines (such as GLP-1) provide opportunities for physical activity’s complementary role in muscle maintenance/gain, strength and maintaining a sustainable healthy weight.
For mental health, particularly in children and young people, physical activity can intervene and support early, including within expanded school mental health support teams and new Young Futures Hubs.
And much is working, led locally by our network of Active Partnerships alongside wider place, leisure and system partners.
Learning and effective practice must spread and approaches should be rooted in lived experience and considered in the context of community need – underpinned by strong system leadership, applied proportionate universalism and applying consistent impact/return on investment measures (i.e. the WELLBY).
So, could the Plan have gone further on physical activity? Of course. But are there opportunities throughout the Plan to capitalise on? Absolutely.
Yes, we’re still holding lots of questions, but let’s not dwell on what could have been and instead focus on the collaborative opportunities in front of us.
Leading the Movement will support and connect decision-makers working to make sport and physical activity accessible and inclusive to everyone.
Funding
Tackling inactivity
Uniting the Movement
As new research finds the JU:MP programme we funded is having a significant impact on getting children active in Bradford, we’re investing an extra £4 million into the city.
Children and young people
Local authorities
Place-based working
Tackling inactivity
At the heart of our campaign are our women, and our mission is to tackle the gender activity gap by getting more women and girls moving in ways that work for them.
In order to achieve this, it’s key to listen to all women and girls, keeping their views and needs as our North Star.
It’s this insight that tells us about the range of barriers that many women face to being active.
Women from underrepresented communities face a disproportionate number of obstacles because they can experience systemic, social, structural, cultural and financial inequalities – barriers that cannot simply be overcome through personal motivation alone.
So the next phase of This Girl Can is unapologetically focused on tackling inequalities and supporting women from underrepresented backgrounds to get active and to achieve this, we know a collective effort is essential.
We want to work in a truly collaborative way to make sure we’re developing inclusive, representative work and that we’re continually learning from the many different organisations who are already embedded in reducing inequalities.
In order to achieve our mission, it’s key to listen to all women and girls, keeping their views and needs as our North Star.
That’s why we’re dedicated to partnering with women who have invaluable knowledge and are already making strides in this arena – women whom other women trust and who are true role models for guidance, support and mentorship.
At the start of this year, we established two advisory panels, a Black women’s advisory panel and a South Asian Muslim women’s advisory panel to help us shape, support and steer the next phase of This Girl Can.
By working with experts in their field, our aim is to ensure the voices of our women are front and centre of the campaign and that the campaign meaningfully connects with Black women and South Asian Muslim women.
I’m delighted to introduce our This Girl Can advisory panel members:
The panels form part of the broader goals for the next phase of This Girl Can, which sees a concerted effort to reach all women, including those from underrepresented backgrounds, to get active.
This Girl Can’s new phase – ‘Belonging Starts with Inclusion’ – seeks to reduce the barriers that exclude women from exercise by showing how women like them are getting active.
Only when our women are seen, heard and included can they genuinely feel a sense of belonging within the world of physical activity.
We want the campaign to deliver behaviour-change by celebrating all women and by working collaboratively with the organisations providing opportunities for women to get active, to ensure that we are collectively providing the conditions that women need to feel they belong in physical activity.
It’s together that we can create even more spaces and opportunities for our women to move in ways that are right for them and, ultimately, build a world of activity where every woman feels like they belong.
Significant growth in activity levels for older adults and disabled people but more work to do to support those living in the most deprived places.
Active Nation
Research
Tackling inactivity
Uniting the Movement
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