APS results reinforce need to deliver more attractive and accessible opportunities for disabled people
The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) was disappointed to learn today (29 January 2015) that Sport England’s latest Active People Survey shows a decline in the last year for the number of disabled people who regularly take part in sport. The national charity believes that the results reinforce the importance of understanding and responding to disabled people’s needs and preferences much more effectively.
Those who provide opportunities need to be much more proactive in implementing new approaches that will better engage disabled people if they are to ensure that everyone can be active for life.
Figures released for Active People Survey 8 show there are 121,700 fewer disabled people participating in the period October 2013 and October 2014 since the last recording. This widens the gap between non-disabled and disabled people’s participation, which shows less than half the number of disabled people take part in sport or physical activity for 30 minutes once a week compared to non-disabled people.
EFDS shares the concerns of Sport England over this decline and the increased gap between disabled people's and non-disabled people’s activity. However, the figures for specific sports and impairment groups are not available for analysis as yet, and we need that information to help all parties to understand where the reductions are for key audiences.
EFDS continues to lead the way in the research, engagement and marketing work. In EFDS’s 2013 Lifestyle Report, it showed that seven in ten disabled people want to be more active. Insight highlights, through EFDS’s Motivate Me and Talk to Me reports, that whilst many opportunities exist, the low participation level suggests that either disabled people are unaware of opportunities available to them or what they are offered is not appealing enough.
Barry Horne, EFDS’s Chief Executive said:
“The figures today confirm what EFDS and Sport England believe. To attract and engage more disabled people in to meaningful activity is not an easy task. It will take long term commitment to change the behaviours of both providers and disabled people.”
Sport England has invested significantly and continues to deliver a strong message to National Governing Bodies of sport that disabled people should be a key population within their Whole Sport Plans. The Active People Survey showed that swimming had dipped substantially in the overall population, which has consistently been the top participation sport for disabled people.
Horne continues:
“Disabled people count for one in five of our population, so all providers have a responsibility to find new, exciting and accessible approaches that support inactive people with a wide range of impairments.”
