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

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New research sheds light on the workforce gap

Fairness in sport and physical activity for disabled people does not just mean equal opportunities to take part, it applies to the workforce too. Activity Alliance’s Annual Disability and Activity Survey 2023-24 found that just 17% of disabled people said they ‘see people like me working in sport and physical activity’. 

Group of people taking part in an exercise class. They are standing in a group and stretching.

Off the back of such damning figures Activity Alliance commissioned Better Decisions Together to explore the barriers and enablers to disabled people becoming part of the workforce. 

The report, of which the executive summary is released today, 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. 

  1. Adopt a ‘flexible by default’ approach to job roles. 
  2. Provide advice and guidance for employers. 
  3. 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. 

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

This culture is vital, and the new Activity Alliance Learning Hub was designed to ensure that organisations and individuals are given the very best opportunity to develop and learn. It contains a range of training programmes to ensure that colleagues, employers and others are able to ensure they offer accessible and inclusive practices.

Visit our workforce research page to view the executive summary. Full findings, along with a range of case studies, are to due be shared in early 2025.  

If you want to find out more, contact HelenN@activityalliance.org.uk or phone 08081 756991.