The National Sector Partners Group (NSPG) has written to the Prime Minister ahead of the Chancellor’s Spending Review, which will be unveiled on 11 June.

The letter has called on the government to back the sector and explains that a failure to do so will risk the decline or closure of more facilities and clubs, a reduction in physical activity levels, a negative impact on physical and mental health, greater health inequalities and lower productivity, which will result in significant extra costs to the treasury and the NHS.

It also emphasises the value of the sector which generates social and economic value worth more than £107 billion annually, through improvements to wellbeing and direct health and social care savings, as well as contributing almost £100 billion annually in direct economic output.

The letter sets out its desire to make the UK the most active country in Europe – it is currently 11th out of 15 comparable nations. Matching the best-performing nations would generate an additional £1 billion in healthcare savings, an additional £3.5 billion in GDP and more than £70 billion in wellbeing benefits annually.

The NSPG has called on the government to invest in high quality, sustainable and affordable community facilities and “our precious green and blue spaces;” as well as school sport, with a focus on inclusion.

The letter also asks the government to create an ambitious national strategy which joins up spending across government and is focussed on prevention to maximise the role of sport, recreation and physical activity in improving health, economic growth, community cohesion, crime reduction and opportunity for all.

Huw Edwards, CEO of UK Active, says: “It is now essential for the government to back our sector properly in the upcoming Spending Review if it is serious about exploring long-term investment opportunities for facilities and a comprehensive strategy for increasing participation.”

The National Sector Partners Group is formed of: The Active Partnerships Network, CIMSPA, The Sport for Development Coalition, The Sport and Recreation Alliance, UK Active and The Youth Sport Trust.

Here is the letter in full:Dear Prime Minister,

As a lover of sport and physical activity, we know you understand its unique power to unite the country, to make people healthier and happier, and positively shape and transform lives. Following last summer’s successful Olympic and Paralympic Games you publicly recognised this, highlighting sport’s ability to bring people together, break down barriers and promote fitness and health and commenting on how important access to sport and physical activity is for local communities and children’s development. Sport, recreation and physical activity can provide this and more, helping to drive economic growth, take pressure off the NHS and build stronger, more connected communities, all while helping to tackle climate change and support the UK’s net-zero ambitions.

The Spending Review marks a crucial moment of opportunity – both for our sector and your Government’s delivery of its five missions. We believe now, more than ever, is the time to unlock fully the true potential of the sport, recreation and physical activity sector and deliver on your stated missions.

Our sector generates social and economic value worth more than £107bn annually, through improvements to wellbeing and direct health and social care savings. It contributes almost £100bn annually in direct economic output – equivalent to 2.5% of total output. And the latest figures show the health and fitness market is worth £5.7bn, an 8.8% increase on the previous year. But there is huge untapped potential being left on the bench.

The UK’s physical activity levels rank 11th out of 15 comparable European nations and the most recent participation data shows significant inequalities remain across different demographic groups and communities. Were we to match the best-performing nations, we would generate an additional £1bn in healthcare savings, an additional £3.5bn in GDP and over £70bn in wellbeing benefits annually.

In this context, increasing and sustaining physical activity levels should form a central pillar of your Government’s missions to: • Kickstart economic growth

• Build an NHS fit for the future • Break down barriers to opportunity

• Take back our streets

With your personal support – along with that of the Chancellor and other key departments – the Spending Review provides the opportunity to prioritise sport, recreation and physical activity and deliver transformative change. Failure to do this will risk the decline or closure of more facilities and clubs, a reduction in physical activity levels, a negative impact on physical and mental health, greater health inequalities and lower productivity – meaning significant extra cost to the Treasury and the NHS.

We therefore call on you to: • Enhance the nation’s sport, recreation and physical activity infrastructure through sustained investment in high quality, sustainable and affordable community facilities, and in our precious green and blue spaces

• Promote good health, happiness and opportunity for our children and young people by protecting and making better use of investment into programmes for enhanced PE, school sport and physical activity, with a focus on inclusion and those facing the greatest barriers to participation. • Change the game with an ambitious national strategy which joins up spending across Government and focusses on prevention to maximise the role of sport, recreation and physical activity in improving health, economic growth, community cohesion, crime reduction and opportunity for all. This can be delivered locally in collaboration with communities.

We believe now is the time to capitalise on the transformative power of sport, recreation and physical activity to deliver on the Government’s missions during this Parliament and beyond. By

supporting our sector in the Spending Review, you can create a healthier, happier and more prosperous nation; one where prevention reduces costs to the NHS and public services, more people are able to work and grow the UK economy and our children and young people live active, healthy and happy lives.

We stand ready to work with you and your government to make the UK the most active nation in Europe and realise all the benefits this would bring.

Yours Sincerely, Active Partnerships

Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) Sport and Recreation Alliance

Sport for Development Coalition ukactive

Youth Sport Trust