Research into the workforce gap (Jan 2025)

The report found an urgent need for the sector to address recruitment and retention strategies. 

Based on 25 interviews with people in the sport and physical activity workforce, most of whom were disabled employees, volunteers and employers it provides three key headline recommendations. 

• Provide advice and guidance for employers. 
• Adopt a ‘flexible by default’ approach to job roles. 
• Proactively identify and remove barriers that exist at all stages of the workforce journey. 

Included in more detailed recommendations are the removal of practical barriers to recruitment, normalising adaptions and establishing a national disability sport and physical activity workforce network. It also calls on the government to make improvements to the Access to Work process. 

From the importance of early experiences to supportive role models or cheerleaders the research found an array of both barriers and enablers to disabled people joining the sport and physical activity workforce. 

Read the Workforce Gap Research Report - Executive Summary.

Emotional support was important to disabled people interviewed, such as from supportive colleagues and managers who foster a welcoming and supportive culture. 

As part of the report a series of case studies were produced to showcase various journeys into the sport and pyhsical activity workforce. Each one highlights the enablers and barriers found by inidivduals.

Case studies

Anna - volunteering after acquiring disability

Colin - sports development career

Isaiah - volunteer coach with learning disability

Natalie - challenges in mainstream fitness

Rob - from voluntary to paid work

Syed - disclosure and reasonable adjustments

If you want to find out more please contact Helen Newberry, workforce lead - email Helen or phone 0808 175 6991.

Executive report published in October 2024.