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Public Health England launches Everybody Active, Every Day

Today Public Health England has launched Everybody Active, Every Day, which is a long-term, evidence-based approach to increase physical activity in local communities. The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) believes that this document represents the beginning of a long-term shift in behaviours for both provider and participant. EFDS, a national charity, is pleased that disabled people are highlighted as a key priority group.

The document recognises that disabled people are half as likely to be active as non-disabled people, but as shown in EFDS’s research, seven in ten want to be more active[1]. Around one in two women and a third of men in England are not enjoying the health benefits of physical activity. Physical inactivity has unsustainable health, economic and social impacts on individuals, families, communities and local services in England, including one in six deaths (equal to smoking) and an annual cost to society of £7.4 billion.

Barry Horne, Chief Executive for EFDS, will Chair a discussion at today’s launch on how an active society will help change attitudes and expectations about physical activity. Speaking from the launch event, he said:

“EFDS believes that reducing physical inactivity among disabled people must be a top Public Health priority. It must be given the same attention, resources and proactive drive as the many other health campaigns we have seen over the years. People with physical, sensory and/or learning impairments together with those with long term health conditions represent one in five of our population, so we all have a part to play in making activity possible for everybody.”  

Everybody Active, Every Day has been co-produced with over 1,000 individuals and organisations at national and local levels and links to national and local priorities, including the Moving More, Living More commitment to a physical activity legacy of the 2012 Games. The document groups what Public Health England see as opportunities for action using four domains: active society, moving professionals, active environments and moving at scale.

EFDS supported Public Health England with an initial research submission and will be present at the launch. The national charity is dedicated to disabled people in sport and physical activity and exists to make active lives possible. One of EFDS’s roles is to support organisations to increase the amount of inclusive and accessible opportunities available, working towards a vision that disabled people are active for life.

The Everybody Active, Every Day framework draws upon a wide range of research, including Sport England’s Active People Survey. EFDS will continue to highlight evidence gathered from disabled people in its own research including: Barriers to participation research, Lifestyle Report, Motivate Me and Active Together. The organisation will soon release a new report which draws on ground breaking research and sets out recommendations to enable more disabled people to become active.

Horne continues:

“Disabled people must have the same choice as everyone to be active. For this to happen, disabled people’s views, experiences and priorities must be central to shaping any new approaches. EFDS has worked hard to improve our own evidence base and knows that action to make real change is more successful when it involves everyone- including all disabled people, inactive as well as active.”

Jane Ellison MP, Minister for Public Health and Jennie Price, Chief Executive, Sport England, will be speaking at the launch event and there will be a contribution from Lord Coe. The event will continue the co-production process by bringing together national and local stakeholders to:

  • Understand the evidence base that underpins the approach and rationale for investing in physical activity.
  • Explore and shape the implementation approach across sectors at local and national levels.
  • Hear about practical examples of embedding physical activity into the fabric of daily life, making it the easy, cost-effective and ‘normal' choice every day.

Horne concludes:

“It is fantastic that Public Health England are bringing all influencers together. It not only ensures we can improve disabled people’s activity levels in this and future generations, but for the millions more who will acquire impairments or health conditions throughout a lifetime. If we truly want everyone to be active every day, we need to understand that whatever we offer needs to be available to, as well as accessible and adaptable for everyone.” 

EFDS will continue to support Public Health England in the framework’s development and implementation.

You can download the framework here

Media notes:

Barry Horne, EFDS’s CEO, is available for interviews at the launch today or over the phone. Please contact Sarah Marl below to arrange a convenient time. Sarah Marl, Marketing and Communications Manager. Email smarl@efds.co.uk. Mobile: 07764 291671

 

[1] EFDS Lifestyle Report