Activity Alliance reiterates manifesto asks ahead of General Election
The general election is set to take place on 4 July. Ahead of polling day Adam Blaze, Chief Executive of Activity Alliance highlights our manifesto asks of any future government:
"We are entering the final stages of the general election campaign. It is right to remind the next government that we require considerable action to close the unfair gap between disabled people’s levels of activity and non-disabled people.
Sport and physical activity play a huge role in how happy and healthy our nation is. At school, in the local park or working out in a nearby gym, we all have the right to welcoming, inclusive, and accessible opportunities. It should not matter how old you are or whether you are beginning an active lifestyle or a talented sports star. Every disabled child and adult should be empowered to take part in physical activity.
Yet there is still significant work to do to ensure many more disabled people can access opportunities.
Our latest Activity and Annual Survey shows the barriers to sport and physical activity for disabled people remain and will require a concerted effort to break down. There are thousands of fantastic examples of locally run opportunities and we encourage policy makers to visit these across their constituencies.
We also need clear and joined-up thinking across the whole political spectrum to help us to break down systemic barriers and see greater changes.
The next government needs to realise the potential and understand the power inclusive sport and physical activity can bring to this country. The inactivity crisis and deep-rooted inequalities for disabled people cannot be fixed by sport decision makers alone. It needs government commitment and leadership, across education, health, employment, and transport.
We look forward to engaging with policymakers and will continue to highlight the three main asks in our manifesto.
- Protect the benefits
Provide clearer understanding and wider safeguarding to reassure disabled people that being regularly active will not threaten their benefits and other forms of government financial assistance
- Equip health and care workers
With NHS, ensure that better processes are in place for health and care workers to support disabled people to use physical activity in ways which work best for them.
- Increase accessible outdoor spaces
Take a leading role in promoting and legislating design standards that ensure accessibility in local and national spaces.
When everyone feels included, we all benefit and unlock the huge benefits of being active, whether economic, health or wellbeing. The next Government must provide meaningful change and champion disabled people’s rights to sport and physical activity. Only then will we be a step closer to creating a fairer country."
Fight for fairness: A manifesto for change (activityalliance.org.uk)
