Chanchellor, Rachel Reeves, talked about fixing the NHS and rebuilding Britain in the budget, but failed to give any detail about the role sport and physical activity could play.

In a statement, The National Sector Partners Group (NSPG) says the Chancellor “missed an opportunity to provide crucial detail about the significant role sport, recreation and physical activity can play in driving a healthier and more productive and prosperous nation.”

The industry lobbying group was dismayed that while Reeves talked about a vision to develop a 10-year NHS plan to shift healthcare from hospital to community, and from treatment to prevention, the sector didn’t receive a mention.

This is frustrating given the NSPG’s efforts to demonstrate that increasing levels of physical activity could result in direct savings for the NHS, increased productivity and wellbeing benefits.

Sport England’s recent social value report detailed that our sector is directly responsible for generating over £100 billion in social value and relieving pressure on the NHS through £10.5 billion a year in health and social care savings.

However, NSPG did welcome the announcement of funding to support children and young people through investment in breakfast clubs and support for elite and grassroots sport through investment in multi-use facilities.

The statement says: “We recognise that the government is still developing the detail underneath many of these announcements, and the NSPG will continue to positively engage with the government to position sport, recreation and physical activity as a key part of the delivery of their five missions.”

UK Active CEO, Huw Edwards, raised concerns about the collective increases in National Living Wage, Minimum Wage, and Employer National Insurance Contributions, but did welcome the increase in Employment Allowance threshold and continued – although reduced – relief for the sector on business rates, alongside the commitment to long term business rates reform.

“With regards the government’s ambitions for economic growth and improving national health, the Chancellor announced a raft of positive measures addressing economic inactivity, major infrastructure projects, investment in the NHS, and devolved settlements which could – and should – be aligned with the growth and development of physical activity programmes and services,” says Edwards. “However, the lack of detail from the government on how sport and physical activity fit into these commitments will frustrate many.”

The NSPG is formed of Active Partnerships, CIMSPA, The Sport for Development Coalition, The Sport and Recreation Alliance, UK Active and The Youth Sport Trust. It was formed to advocate for the sector and embed sport, recreation and physical activity as a key contributor to wider public policy objectives.

In the light of the budget, NSPG has resolved to continue to challenge political leaders to commit to making the UK the most active nation in Europe and in doing so generate £1bn in healthcare savings and a GDP uplift of £3.6bn a year.