Team GB Olympic weightlifter Emily Campbell has issued a rallying cry to Make Britain Stronger as she announces a three-step plan to support a healthier nation through the benefits of strength training.

Speaking on Sky News Breakfast (6 March) alongside ukactive CEO Huw Edwards, Emily announced her ambition to help millions more people meet the Chief Medical Officer’s strength guidelines.

The CMO recommends all adults undertake some form of strength exercises two days each week to develop or maintain strength in the major muscle groups – from heavy gardening and carrying heavy shopping, to resistance exercise and gym.

Later in the day (6 March), Emily called for support from an audience of 500 health experts, physical activity leaders and policymakers at ukactive’s Active Uprising conference at the QEII Centre in Westminster.

On Wednesday (5 March), the Olympic medal-winning athlete was in Parliament for meetings with the Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Government officials as she urged the Government and the NHS to work with the sport and physical activity sector to drive change.

Research has shown the benefits of strength training for managing the symptoms and prevalence of musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions including falls and fractures, both of which cause major damage to the NHS and the economy.

Fractures due to falls are a major cost to the NHS, at £4.4bn per year. Falls are the most frequent incident affecting hospital inpatients and the cost of treating falls in hospitals is an estimated £630m a year.

Emily wants to utilise the UK’s network of gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres as the engine room for a stronger Britain.

Studies have shown that those in strength training experience a reduction in anxiety and depressive symptoms, with clear boosts to energy levels and sleep quality, alongside improved general self-esteem. These benefits have been seen across the board – from inactive, healthy and older adults to children and adolescents.

Emily said: “There are many different forms of strength training which make it accessible to all. You can start without any kit at all, using your own bodyweight and then begin to increase the weights you lift in the safe, supportive environment of a gym or leisure centre in your neighbourhood.

“Strength training isn't just about how much you can lift, it can be hugely beneficial to prevent injury, reduce the risk of pain and illness, and even help us to build confidence and mental resilience.

“My journey has taken me to the Olympic podium, but my greatest challenge is to leave a legacy that makes strength training part of everyday life for people from all communities.

Strength training can really make every one of us feel incredible, and I’m committed to helping as many people as possible unlock their full potential.”

Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive, said: “Emily has been a champion for Team GB and now she is also a champion for the nation’s health, with such an important message about the value of strength exercises in our daily lives.

“Millions of people are using our nation’s gyms, pools and leisure facilities to get stronger every day but we want to ensure even more people – no matter what their age, background or ability – experience the benefits.”

Active Uprising 2025

The theme for ukactive’s flagship annual conference was ‘No Growth without Health: Physical Activity’s Role in National Renewal’, attracting speakers and delegates from across the worlds of government, healthcare, fitness and sport.

The day began with an opening speech from ukactive’s Chair, Mike Farrar, who called for greater investment in the sector to support the Government’s health and economic ambitions.

He was followed by Paul Corrigan, the strategic adviser to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who is tasked with shaping the Government’s 10-year plan for the NHS that is set to be announced in Spring 2025.

Paul discussed the physical activity sector’s role in primary prevention and the need for the NHS to be a better partner with the sector to support secondary prevention too.

Paul Corrigan said: “If we carry on doing what we’re doing in the same way that we’re doing it, the health service will collapse – in fact, it is collapsing now.

“There are 18 million people with long-term conditions in this country. It’s true that keeping somebody from getting iller will transform the future of the fortunes of the health service.

“The NHS has been a bad partner and it cannot afford to continue to be a really bad partner – it needs relationships outside of itself in order to solve the problems of health.

“The answer to this is actually in every locality. How do you get someone who hasn’t thought about being active in their health to be active? That’s not going to happen in Whitehall, it’s going to happen in hearts and minds and how we as the NHS work in localities with you, the physical activity sector.”

Marianne Boyle, Director of Membership Engagement at ukactive, chaired a health discussion on how the physical activity sector can help address poor health and economic growth, with panelists Laura-Jane Rawlings MBE, CEO, Youth Employment UK; Jordan Cummins, UK Competitiveness Director, CBI and Adam Memon, Director of Strategy, NHS England.

Other keynote sessions included Mark Shayler, Innovation and Environmental Advisor who discussed sustainability in business and how leaders can’t make money from a dead planet.

Claire Rollins, Portfolio Leader at Banyan Software took the stage to explain how to build high-performing teams for sustainable business growth.

And Iain Pringle, Loyalty Consultant and Managing Partner at New World Loyalty, shared his expertise on how rewards and incentives can shape our choices and transform behaviour.

Read more on Mike Farrar’s message to the nation here

Watch Emily Campbell alongside ukactive CEO, Huw Edwards, on Sky News Breakfast discussing the Make Britain Stronger campaign here