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The national charity and leading voice for disabled people in sport and activity

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Activity Alliance tender: Return on investment and economic impact

As the leading voice of disabled people in sport and activity, it is critical that Activity Alliance can influence and advocate in our mission to achieve fairness. To do this, we need credible, valid and robust insight that enables us to engage, provoke and crucially evidence the change needed. We are now looking to commission an agency to help evidence the economic impact and value to the economy and on disabled people of being active, and on others such as the NHS. 

Inclusive sitting volleyball session

Through our existing annual portfolio of research, insight, and evaluation outputs we can demonstrate the impact of our delivery through place-based activity. We can better understand the ways to encourage disabled people to be more active and highlight what is needed to improve their experiences and perceptions in sport and activity.

We want to be in the strongest possible position to demonstrate why our vision of achieving fairness is so critical in the current landscape. There are financial challenges currently facing our nation and the potential unknowns that sit alongside a forthcoming General Election. We are launching our new strategy in 2024 and have recognised some gaps within our portfolio of sector-leading research and insight. This is particularly with regard to the return on investment and the economic impact of ‘more disabled people accessing the health and economic benefits of sport and activity’ (working title).

Sector insights

Given the nature of the various funding models that support organisations in our sector and enable them to deliver against improved social and health outcomes, it is frequently the case that there is the need to evidence economic impact. Various examples from across the sector and indeed ourselves have helped shape narratives for decision makers to ensure that increasing sport and activity levels is not a luxury but is instead vital with huge social, wellbeing and economic gains.  

In 2018 Activity Alliance commissioned a report on ‘The social and economic impact on increasing physical activity among disabled people’. Some of the headline findings were particularly stark, for example it was estimated that improved health outcomes would yield social benefit worth £1.3 billion to £2.2 billion across the PIP caseload, spread over five years. In addition, there would be NHS savings of £245 million to £374 million across the PIP caseload of £516 million to £845 million across the general disabled population, also spread over five years[1].

More recently, Sport for Confidence shared the evaluation of their Prevention and Enablement model (PEM) which concluded it could deliver up to an estimated £58.71 of social value for every £1 invested. In addition, they reported that the difference in life satisfaction between individuals about to start PEM and those one month into the programme is estimated to equate to a monetary value of £22,230 per person per year[2]. Being able to demonstrate the individual impact that such interventions have is particularly useful for organisations who are aiming to change perceptions and/or engage organisations who may have a role in supporting and/or influencing behaviour change, for example health care professionals.

Likewise, in the Sport and Recreation Alliance’s Social Value of Movement and Dance report[3] which focused in on organisations delivering various forms of movement and dance, it reflected upon on individual, social and community outputs. These included enhancement of human capital and educational attainment which had an estimate uplift in participant earnings of £13.47million. It also found that movement and dance had the ability to reach and retain specific groups better than other forms of activity.

Regionally, Active Partnerships are striving to demonstrate the economic value that sport and physical activity has on their county. For example, among other findings West of England Sport Trust (Wesport) reported an estimated cost savings to the NHS as a result of avoiding different types of illness at £17.9 million, the quality adjusted life years saved is 8,696 and the health benefits based on life years saved is £260.87 million[4]. The report also presented insights against employment and economic value of volunteering, both areas critical as we consider the damaging effect of increased cost of living and can again demonstrate the role that improving access to roles in sport and physical activity can have at a local level.  

Other examples include:

Proposal and scope

We are entering a period of increased political engagement and with greater levels of pressure on the public purse. It is important for Activity Alliance to evidence tangible impact that can prove attractive to key Government departments, particularly HM Treasury, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and Department for Health and Social Care.

To help evidence this we want to undertake a comprehensive independent review that will assess, analyse and present the following:

  • Economic (negative) impact to the economy, NHS and on disabled people of not being active.
  • Illustration of current picture and projected. For example, of 5 and 10 years if the baselines of disabled people’s inactivity doesn’t decrease.
  • The cost comparison of increasing the activity levels of disabled people versus remaining at current inactivity level.
  • Potential insights against productivity loss and or gain.

In terms of methodology, we would expect the appropriate modelling to be applied and welcome appointed agencies to present the rationale as to what is to be used and why. We would expect a robust health economics influence across the research alongside a broader assessment of social impact. The potential messages should be shaped to target multiple audiences. I.e., those that highlight financial need aimed at treasury-based decision makers and those for targeting NHS. This is in terms of understanding the roles healthcare professionals play in prioritising activity and looking at ways it can be embedded, for example, through quality and outcome frameworks.

We would also expect to see consideration made as to the nature of the modelling in terms of defining ‘disabled people’. Particularly how this is to reflect those with long term health conditions, and disabled people who may not be in receipt of benefits.

Proposal requirements and deadline   

We are undertaking a competitive tender process to ascertain the best approach in terms of modelling, expertise and presentation of the research.

Please email your proposal by 5pm, 15 December, to Sarah Brown-Fraser, External Affairs Manager Sarah@activityalliance.org.uk

The proposal should include:

  • Demonstration of previous projects/experience including relevant examples.
  • A project timeline and overview of the approach you will take.
  • How you would use disabled people in key phases such as listening, co-design, and co-production.
  • A cost breakdown for all work.
  • Indication of potential other accessible formats required for final publication.
  • References or testimonials from current or past clients.
  • Your requirements/expectations of Activity Alliance.

Proposed budget £20k - £25k (including VAT).

Final outputs to include:

  • Report and executive summary to include recommendations. These should be available in accessible word and accessible PDF.
  • Accessible and clear infographics for social media and presentations with headline findings.
  • We will also have budget for other formats, such as British Sign Language short films, easy read etc.

Submission from freelance researchers or consortia are also welcome but it will be crucial that they can demonstrate their experience in undertaking similar project/s previously.

Timescales

  • 4 December 2023 – launch tender process
  • 15 December 2023 – close tender applications
  • w/c 18 December 2023 – shortlisting and confirmation
  • Early January 2024 – project begins
  • End of March 2024 – project completion

 [1] Activity Alliance (2018) Increasing physical activity among disabled people: The social and economic impact. (Available via email).

[2] Sport for Confidence (2022) Prevention and Enablement model evaluation report

[3] Sport and Recreation Alliance (2021) Social Value of Movement and Dance.

[4] Wesport (2017) Economic Value of the Sport Sector in West of England