More people taking part in sport in the Black Country

Fantastic news for the Black Country was revealed yesterday (29 Jan), as Sport England announced the latest Active People Survey, the nation’s most accurate measure of adults playing sport each week.

The Black Country saw an increase of 3.2% which equates to almost 29,000 extra adults taking part in sport every week. This is all the more exciting as it bucks the trend of the West Midlands which saw an overall decrease of 0.4%. Nationally, Sport England saw an overall increase in participation in sport of only 0.1%.

This dramatic increase has seen the first significant jump in the region in almost a decade and the outstanding performance was spread across all four of the Local Authorities.

Simon Hall, Director of the Black Country BeActive Partnership said: "We are delighted that our participation rates have improved since the last results were announced in 2013.  We, along with the 4 Black Country Local Authorities, National Governing Bodies of Sport and educational establishments have been investing in local projects and opportunities for Black Country residents to take part in sport and physical activity. I am delighted that this is now starting to pay off.  Further details will be announced over the next few weeks as we undertake our analysis of the findings."

Working with a variety of partners, the Black Country Consortium Ltd, the accountable body for the Black Country BeActive Partnership operates a variety of programmes and initiatives aimed at increasing and sustaining peoples participation in sport. Through closer collaboration and the utilisation of Sport England funded programmes including Sportivate, Satellite Clubs, Black Country in Motion and the new multi-million pound Sport England Campaign "This Girl Can” – which actively encourages and celebrates female sports participation – it is hoped this positive trend will continue. 

For further information on Active People, please click here to visit Sport England’s website.

-          ENDS     -

 Notes for Editors

The number of people playing sport is tracked continuously through Active People – the largest survey of sport and active recreation ever carried out in Europe.

Since 2005/6, the findings have become a valuable resource for the sports sector. Results are released in June and December each year.

Active People provides information on:

·         The national picture of who is taking part in sport and how are they participating. This can be broken down by demographics like age, gender ethnicity, as well as by the way people are engaging; for example, participation by volunteering or club membership

·         The local picture of who plays sport and how. With information about different geographical areas, including local authorities, county sport partnerships and regions.

·         A picture of the participation by individual sports; who plays sport and how they participate (involvement in clubs, organised competition and tuition).

-       National average 35.8 % 

-       This represents an increase of 1.63 million compared with 2005/06 (APS1) but a decrease of 125,100 compared with the October 2013 result.

https://www.sportengland.org/research/who-plays-sport/

-       The Black Country has increased participation rates by 3.2 %, which is the first significant increase from the baseline in 2005/6.

-       Sandwell has increased by 5%

-       Wolverhampton is only 0.9% below the national average.

-       We have risen 5 places from ASP7

For further details on Active People in the Black Country contact Simon Hall on 01384 471136