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Devolution is changing the game and Sport England’s Place Partnerships are making sure physical activity is part of the plan.

England's devolution agenda is changing where power sits, plus it is also changing how places think about health, transport, housing, skills and economic growth.

The decisions made through devolution today will shape communities for decades because by embedding movement into new systems now, physical activity becomes part of how places work.

Physical activity can influence how neighbourhoods are designed, how people travel, how services are delivered and how communities thrive.

The opportunity is to move beyond seeing physical activity as an outcome and recognise it as a tool for creating better places and, across the country, Sport England's Place Partnerships are helping to make that happen.

Because places are not waiting to be invited into devolution conversations – they're starting them with health, community organisations, local authorities, education and others.

Furthermore, they are building relationships with these partners, bringing evidence and showing how physical activity can help deliver wider ambitions.

Shaping systems fit for the future

Devolution requires an approach that connects physical activity to the wider challenges facing places and it presents an opportunity to rewire systems locally.

This is to be done by better connecting policy and service areas so that it is everyone’s responsibility to support healthier places, stronger communities and better outcomes across public services through the lens of getting people more active.

This shift is already happening.

In Cumbria, our partners used a period of local government reorganisation as an opportunity to influence the future system.  

With this aim in mind Active Cumbria focused on building relationships, demonstrating value and showing how physical activity could support the ambitions of the new authorities.

Plus a shared-services prospectus helped turn the case for physical activity into a compelling opportunity for senior leaders, showing how it could add value across services rather than sit within a single agenda.

At the same time, involvement in local government redesign opened the door to shaping future ways of working, with sport and physical activity positioned as part of the solution.

Together, these opportunities created a stronger platform to influence how services could work collectively to support healthier communities.

The key lesson is simple: influence is strongest when relationships and credibility are built before decisions are made.

Elsewhere, in West Yorkshire, our partners have taken a regional approach, connecting physical activity with wider ambitions around health, transport and inclusive growth.

By aligning movement with strategic priorities, physical activity has become part of conversations about creating better places – demonstrating how activity can contribute beyond sport.

South Yorkshire provides another example of how partnerships can use evidence and collaboration to influence wider agendas.

By connecting physical activity with challenges such as health inequalities, community resilience and economic opportunity, partners have helped position movement as part of the solution and a contributor to wider outcomes.

And in Devon, our partners have focused on building the foundations for future influence.

By engaging early with local leaders and demonstrating the contribution physical activity can make, they are helping ensure movement is considered within wider discussions about place and public services – creating the opportunity to shape decisions before they are made.

Common goals across the map

These examples show there is no single route to embedding physical activity in devolution as every place has its own challenges, opportunities and priorities.

But the non-negotiable principles are clear – understand local ambitions, build trusted relationships and demonstrate the value physical activity can bring.

Strategic authorities and local leaders are focused on major challenges: improving health, boosting economic activity, tackling inequality, strengthening communities and creating better places to live.

The opportunity for our Place Partnerships is to connect movement with these wider priorities.  

Active travel supports transport ambitions, active communities support better health outcomes, physical activity supports children's development and investment in activity creates social and economic value.

The evidence is powerful, as Sport England estimates that community sport and physical activity generate £123 billion in annual social value, with a further £20 billion possible if the least active matched the most active. 

These are not just numbers. They are arguments about public services, economic growth and the future of places.

By the time a strategy is published or an investment decision is made, much of the thinking has already happened, that is why we support our Place Partnerships to be part of conversations from the beginning.

A work that goes hand in hand

Because, ultimately, this is the role of our Place Partnerships – connecting organisations, aligning priorities and creating the conditions for long-term change in supporting people to engage with, and value, being physically active.

We’re convinced that devolution will shape England's places for generations.

Decisions about transport networks, housing developments, health systems, employment and regeneration will influence whether active living becomes the easy choice for future communities.

And that’s why physical activity cannot sit on the sidelines of these conversations.

The examples from Cumbria, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Devon and other places show what is possible, because when Place Partnerships build relationships, bring evidence and align with local priorities, they become trusted partners in shaping the future.

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.

What’s new or different?

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:

• every movement counts – even small increases from a low baseline (i.e. for those who do no or very little activity) can bring real health benefits. Research highlights that 11 minutes a day of moderate-intensity physical activity is associated with a 23% lower risk of early death. And this is exactly the idea that This Girl Can has turned into their Move 10 challenge, encouraging women to move for 10 minutes a day, 10 times in a month and to mark their progress with a free online tracker
• light-intensity activity (allowing you to carry on a conversation or even sing while performing the activity) is recognised as beneficial for your health, particularly for those who are inactive, older adults, disabled people and those living with long-term health conditions
• strength and balance activity is vital throughout our lives but particularly as we age, in order to maintain mobility and independence. Interestingly, this now specifically includes people taking GLP-1 agonist drugs to help maintain muscle strength. This is key as studies show loss of lean muscle mass can be an adverse outcome of taking these drugs, potentially impairing mobility and worsening insulin resistance. Regular physical activity also supports the prevention of weight regain
• the benefits of being active far outweigh any associated risks, including for people with disability and most long-term health conditions, as we know the fear of injury or worsening an existing health issue can be a significant barrier to becoming active. It is key that physical activity is performed for an appropriate amount of time and at an appropriate level of intensity for the individual
• the need to reduce prolonged periods of sitting (too much time sedentary is associated with risks to our health)
• stronger evidence on the importance of physical activity for women. In fact, women in the most deprived areas are significantly less likely to do two or more sessions of muscle-strengthening activity each week (key to mobility, bone health and longevity), compared to those in living in less deprived areas.

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 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.

What are the takeaways for our sector?

• Don’t forget our own learning: whilst the headlines here are that core activity guidelines remain the same, certain aspects now have a heightened emphasis. I’d encourage everyone to take the time to read and absorb this update. Having been involved in sport, physical activity and health for over 20 years, this was a good refresher for me, plus I learned a lot too!
• Sharing with and supporting influencers: let’s share key points emphasised through this refresh, alongside updated resources, with our networks – particularly those change-makers who have the greatest influence over people that do no or little activity at all. Let’s celebrate that the evidence has never been stronger.
• Clarity of message: this refresh reinforces the idea that 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity (or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity, or a combination of both) should remain the benchmark, but we know that for many 150 minutes can feel out of reach. This means supporting and celebrating first steps, advocating that even small increases in activity can deliver real health benefits (but the more we do, the greater those benefits will be), and tailoring messages to people's needs, motivations and circumstances.

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.

As England continues to experience a period of sustained heat, the latest evidence suggests that spells of extended hot weather are becoming an increasingly important difficulty when trying to be active.

Following the June heatwave, our Activity Check-in has shown that 71% of adults said they had experienced extreme heat during the previous 12 months.

Among those who had to endure extreme heat, 73% said they had done less sport and physical activity as a result.

Our study also says that the proportion saying the weather in the previous seven days was not suitable for being active increased almost fivefold, from 5% in August 2025 to 24.5% in June 2026.

Cost, time and confidence have long been recognised as obstacles to being active. These findings suggest that prolonged periods of hot weather are becoming another.

Not that hot weather is anything new. But the frequency of occurrence and the new highs reached are challenging resilience, and can turn opportunities for taking part in sport and physical activity from merely uncomfortable to unattainable for many individuals and communities.

Extreme weather is often framed in long-term and global terms, but it is undoubtedly already shaping when and how people take part in sport and physical activity today.

A hotter climate is already here

The past two years have shown how quickly weather patterns are changing.

June 2025 was England's warmest June on record, with two heatwaves during the month and temperatures across parts of eastern and south-eastern England around 3°C above the long-term average.

That record was surpassed in just one year as June 2026 then became England's new warmest June on record with a mean temperature of 17.1°C and temperatures reaching 37.7°C during the heatwave towards the end of the month.

For the sport and physical activity sector this is no longer simply an environmental challenge. Heat is becoming a participation issue.

Previous research has already shown that climate change risks widening existing inequalities in sport and physical activity.

These latest findings build on that picture, suggesting that prolonged periods of hot weather are already affecting people's ability and willingness to be active.

What did we find?

We compared findings from two Activity Check-in surveys: one from August 2025, shortly after the June 2025 heatwaves; and one from June 2026, carried out immediately following that month's heatwave.

The proportion reporting exposure to extreme heat during the previous 12 months almost doubled, increasing from 37% in August 2025 to 71% in June 2026.

Among those who had experienced heatwaves, 73.2% said they had done less sport and physical activity because of them, compared with 63.1% in August 2025.

When asked about barriers to activity, there was also a marked increase in the number saying the weather was not suitable for being active during the previous seven days.

While both surveys followed record-breaking periods of hot weather, the latest findings suggest the June 2026 heatwave had an even greater impact on participation.

Why does heat affect participation?

There is still more to learn about exactly how prolonged heat affects participation in England, but there are several likely factors.

For some, particularly older adults and those living with long-term health conditions, exercising in high temperatures can become physically more demanding and may raise concerns about health and safety.

This means these groups, along with disabled people, may experience the greatest challenges during prolonged periods of heat - showing how the impact of extreme weather is unlikely to be felt equally.

Heat can also reduce opportunities to be active.

Outdoor spaces may become uncomfortable or unsafe to use, organised activities may be adapted or cancelled, and travel disruption can make it more difficult to reach facilities.

Even where opportunities remain available, motivation can change.

When daily life already feels harder because of heat, being active may feel less appealing or less manageable.

What does this mean for grassroots sport?

Let’s face it – the climate crisis is already affecting how sport is delivered.

Grassroots sport relies heavily on outdoor facilities, volunteers and community organisations.

Many clubs are already managing the impacts of flooding during winter only to face hard, dry pitches and prolonged periods of hot weather during the summer months.

Climate impacts already cost grassroots sport circa £320 million annually in repairs and lost income.

These effects are not distributed evenly, with more deprived communities often more exposed to climate hazards and with fewer resources to respond.

This reflects a broader picture emerging from our Horizon Scanning work: climate change is increasingly shaping when and where people engage in sport and physical activity.

More frequent extreme weather, alongside changing travel patterns and sustainability goals, is expected to influence participation over the coming years.

These findings suggest those longer-term trends are already beginning to play out.

The sector has adapted to changing patterns of participation before and high heat may become another long-term trend that influences how people choose to be active.

Understanding those changes early gives the sector the opportunity to adapt before they become embedded.

With action now, sport can become more resilient, inclusive and sustainable.

Building the evidence

Our data allows us to understand how people's experiences change as events unfold, rather than relying on reflection months later.

Capturing people's experiences immediately after periods of extreme heat has helped us to better understand who is most affected, how behaviours change and where adaptation may be needed.

If you'd like to explore the findings in more detail, our Activity Check-in interactive dashboard includes data on activity levels, motivation, attitudes and barriers to participation, alongside climate-related questions, for both adults and children and young people.

Looking ahead

Heatwaves are becoming a more familiar feature of life in England.

Climate change is no longer happening somewhere else or is an issue for the future. It is shaping experiences and behaviours today.

For the sport and physical activity sector, the challenge is understanding what this means for participation, who is most affected and how we respond.

By continuing to build our understanding of how weather influences participation, we can help the sector adapt to support everyone to be active safely, confidently and consistently in the years ahead.

If you'd like to share your experiences or explore the findings in more detail, we'd love to hear from you.

The week our latest Active Lives survey results come out is always one I look forward to, because it’s a chance to step back, look at the data and really understand what’s happening with volunteering in our sector.

With Volunteers’ Week here, I wanted to share a few reflections on the latest adults release – what it tells us about the state of volunteering right now and what it might mean for those of us working across sport and physical activity.

Volunteering levels are recovering – but not fully

The headline figure is encouraging: 10.9 million adults in England gave their time to support sport and physical activity in the 12 months between November 2024 and 2025. That’s an increase of nearly 400,000 compared to the previous year.

This recovery matters, because volunteers are the backbone of our sector and they create opportunities for people to be active in communities that boost wellbeing.

Volunteering in sport and physical activity also generates an estimated £8.6 billion in social value annually, and much of this worth comes from the wellbeing benefits individuals gain through volunteering.  

But we shouldn’t get carried away, because whilst we’re seeing recovery since the pandemic, we’re still not back to pre-Covid levels.  

Volunteering was already in decline before the pandemic and so even though numbers are improving, many clubs and organisations won’t necessarily feel that recovery on the ground.

What does this mean for the volunteer experience?

Fewer volunteers can mean more pressure on existing volunteers, and we hear consistently from partners and volunteers that workloads remain high.

Sport volunteers are incredibly committed – they step up, take on extra responsibilities and keep things running.

But this resilience can mask an ongoing risk of burnout, which became apparent during and after the pandemic and hasn’t yet gone away. If anything, it’s become part of their day-to-day reality.

That’s why it’s critical to focus not just on bringing new people into volunteering, but on improving the experience for those already involved.

Inequalities remain stubborn

The data also reinforces something we’ve known for a long time: volunteering is not accessible to everyone.

People from lower socio-economic backgrounds, disabled adults and those with long-term health conditions remain underrepresented.

This mirrors patterns we see in participation more broadly and won’t change without deliberate action.

But if we’re serious about improving the diversity of our volunteer base then designing volunteer opportunities around lived experience, making them more flexible, inclusive and relevant is essential.  

A widening gender gap

One of the most striking trends this year is that men are driving the recent increases in volunteering.

Men now make up 62% of weekly volunteers – compared to 37% who are women – and the gap appears to be widening.

This raises an important question: are we genuinely reaching new audiences or are we relying on the same groups to do more?

This isn’t to take away from the positive recovery we’re seeing, but it does highlight that more needs to be done to ensure our volunteers are representative of the population.

What’s not working for women?

The gender imbalance is even more concerning alongside the wider context of women’s experiences in sport.

Women in Sport's research highlights issues such as misogyny and women feeling that their voices aren’t heard in coaching roles, and that practical factors like how voluntary roles are structured and whether they fit around people’s lives play a significant part in how accessible roles are to women.

Life stage matters too, as highlighted by our Life Cycles research, and Active Lives shows that while having children increases the likelihood of volunteering in sport overall, the effect is stronger for men.

This is because men with children are more likely to take on coaching or officiating roles while for women, caring responsibilities can be both an enabler and a barrier, particularly in leadership positions like refereeing and coaching.

So, what works?

To bring more women and other underrepresented groups into volunteering – and to deliver positive experiences  – we need to take a more intentional approach and be open to challenging the status quo.

This is a multi-layered challenge – it requires systemic and cultural change, tackling discrimination head-on and rethinking how roles are designed.

Flexibility, family-friendly approaches and clear pathways into leadership roles all make a difference and I can't recommend enough the wide breath of volunteering resources by Buddle, which provide support at every stage of the journey for sport and physical organisations – from help finding volunteers, to defining roles, ensuring wellbeing or building progression paths.

We must also remember that visibility matters – when people see relatable role models and examples of positive experiences, it helps them shift perceptions of who volunteering is for.

For instance, Black Girls Ruck demonstrate the power of community building and how, when done in an authentic way, it can challenge perceptions, give visibility and empower women currently underrepresented in a sport.

Women-led and targeted programmes, like those highlighted in the This Girl Can volunteering guide, show what’s possible when opportunities are designed with women in mind.

Where to next?

Volunteering is recovering, but we can’t rely on this recovery alone to solve the underlying challenges.

For a more sustainable and inclusive volunteer workforce, we need to focus on experience as much as numbers – supporting existing volunteers, reaching those currently underrepresented and creating environments where everyone can thrive.

And whilst acknowledging the scale of the challenge, we also want to take this moment in Volunteers’ Week to recognise and thank the millions of people who give up their time to help others.

Their contribution makes a huge difference to people and communities across the country, and we want to make that experience better for everyone.