1. Review of Sport and
Physical Activity in Gloucestershire
2012
Brought to you by Active Gloucestershire,
Gloucestershire’s County Physical Activity and
Sports Partnership
www.activegloucestershire.org
Active Gloucestershire Ltd. Oxstalls Campus, University of Gloucestershire, Oxstalls Lane, Gloucester, GL2 9HW

2. Aims
This presentation is designed to inform and educate with a
view to improving the number and quality of all forms of
sport and physical activity opportunities in Gloucestershire.
Active Gloucestershire works to get as many people as
possible involved in sport and physical activity. We are part
of a wide range of organisations in Gloucestershire that
put health and well being at the heart of what we do.

3. The importance of sport and physical
activity
Physical activity is important for reducing risk factors for chronic
diseases including high blood pressure, overweight and obesity
(World Health Organisation, 2007).
People who are physically active, either through playing sport
regularly or taking part in other forms of physical activity, are
much less likely than sedentary individuals to develop health
problems (Blair et al. 2001).
Sport and physical activity play a huge role in our communities by
bringing people closer together and potentially helping address
many social problems including crime and social deprivation.

4. About Gloucestershire
17%
19%
13% 12%
• Adults aged 35 to 54 years old represent the largest
11% section of Gloucestershire’s population.
28% • By 2033 it is projected that approximately 27.8% of the
population (187,600 people) will be aged 65 years and
over.
0-14 years 15-24 years 25-34 years
• With an age profile skewed towards older aged adults it is
35-54 years 55-64 years 65+ years
likely that provision for sport and physical activity
participation in Gloucestershire will increasingly need to
reflect specific needs and preferences.
• 28 of the Lower Super Output Areas in Gloucestershire
are among the most deprived 20% nationally, 7 of these 28
are within the most deprived 10% nationally (Government
Office for the South West, 2008). 3 Lower Super Output
Areas (Matson and Robinswood, Podsmead and St Paul’s
in Cheltenham) are within the most deprived 5%
nationally. In total, more than 42,000 people live in areas
of high social deprivation.

5. Gloucestershire’s health
Approximately 80% of local people report
overall good health.
In keeping with national trends the three
main causes of death and serious illness are
circulatory diseases (heart disease and
strokes), cancers and respiratory
diseases, such as asthma and chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (NHS
Gloucestershire, 2010).
Assuming Gloucestershire’s adult population
stands at approximately 493,000 people
(Office for National Statistics, 2011), an
obesity level of 25% equates to roughly 123,00
people. This has serious implications for
individuals and the county as a whole.
Evidence indicates that the financial
consequence in 2009 of treating conditions
associated with obesity in Gloucestershire
was £7.5m (Department of Health, 2009).

6. Young people’s participation in sport
and physical activity
Approximately one in five children in school years 6 and 10 do less than two hours of physical
activity a week (NHS Gloucestershire, 2010).
In 2009/10, 45% of 16 to 19 years olds in Gloucestershire participated in ‘3x30’ sport and active
recreation, an overall increase of only 8% since 2005/06 (Sport England, 2011b).
72% of 16 to 19 years olds indicated that they were happy with local sports provision but more
than half (62%) indicated that they wanted to do more sport or recreational physical activity
which suggest that the reasons for non, or limited participation are not simply about the
provision of opportunities or facilities.
It is concerning that there has not been a significant increase in the numbers of young adults
receiving coaching or sports tuition (42% in 2009/10) or participating in competitive sport
Local data (Owens, 2010) show that of the pupils in Year 11 (16-17 year olds) who did do some
form of sport and physical activity, approximately 80% were not meeting the minimum
recommended levels either during Year 11 or after completing compulsory education.
Overall, the number of 16-17 year olds meeting the minimum recommended levels for sport
and physical activity participation declined from approximately 14% in Year 11 to only 9% in the
period after leaving school.

7. Adult participation in sport and
physical activity
The Active People Survey (APS) provides the largest sample size ever established for a sport and
recreation survey. APS is now in its 6th phase.
A number of indicators (KPIs) measure various dimensions of participation including National
Indicator 8 which tracks people who participate in at least 3 sessions of moderate sport and/or
active recreation each week (3x30).
KEY FINDINGS: Figure 13: Percentage of adults (16+) in Gloucestershire
participating in at least 3x30 (NI8) since 2005/06
1. Gloucestershire has shown a strong trend in
comparison with the regional average since
2005/06.
2. Recent data (2012) shows a statistically
significant2 increase for NI8, representing
the largest improvement regionally.
3. It is concerning that there has been a
downward trend since APS4 (2009/2010)
which suggests that maintaining increases
in participation presents a significant and
on-going challenge.

8. Other frequencies of participation
There are large variations within the
county indicating that participation is
uneven. Comparison of None, 1x30, 3x30 and 5x30 for Gloucestershire districts.
We should be encouraged that %
approximately 60% of local people are
participating in at least one weekly session
of moderate intensity sport or physical
activity (1x30)
Approximately 25% are participating in in at
least 5x30.
It is a concern that a large proportion
(approximately 27%) of local people report
doing no sport or physical activity at all.

9. Sport in Gloucestershire
Increasing adult participation in sport is a Participation in 1x30 Sport in Gloucestershire
core governmental objective and forms part since 2005/2006
39.0%
of a wider strategy that aspires to maximise 38.0%
English sporting success in all its forms 37.0%
(Sport England, 2008). 36.0%
35.0%
Recent data (2012) highlights that
34.0%
Gloucestershire has shown a consistent
33.0%
upward trend in 1x30* since the Active 32.0%
People Survey first began in 2005/2006). APS1 APS2 APS3 APS4 APS5 Apr 11 -
(05-06) (07-08) (08-09) (09-10) (10-11) Apr 12
* 1x30 refers to 1 session of sport a week i.e. at least 4 sessions of at least moderate intensity for at least 30 minutes in the previous 28 days)

10. Sports facilities in Gloucestershire
Latest data from Sport England (2011a) indicates that there
are 926 sporting facilities in Gloucestershire of which the
majority are grass pitches.

11. Sports clubs in Gloucestershire
In 2008, the average number of adult club members was 72, and 71 junior members.
Overall, approximately 80% were maintaining their adult and junior memberships.
Across the sample, 17% reported that membership was increasing.
Main sources of club income: Main sources of club expenditure:
Source: CCPR (2009).

12. Summary
Sport and physical activity should be used as a means to tackling a wide range of issues including
health and well-being, crime and social deprivation but more needs to be understood about the
nature of local contextual factors affecting participation, including social deprivation and cultural
factors.
Approximately 60% of local people now participate in at least one weekly session of moderate
intensity sport or physical activity (1x30) per week although a large proportion (approximately 27%)
of local people still report doing no sport or physical activity at all (worse within certain areas).
The number of Gloucestershire adolescents meeting the minimum recommended levels for sport
and physical activity participation declines between Year 11 and the period after leaving school.
The new Youth and Community Strategy for Sport is cognizant of the fact that young people are
increasingly turning their backs on sport participation when they leave school and that
approaches, to date, are not working. Whilst efforts to increase participation in schools have
historically proved successful it remains to be seen what the investment in new opportunities for
those aged between 14 and 25 years will yield.

13. Want more?
Active Gloucestershire is able to support you with a range of
intelligence to suit your needs, whether you are a club seeking
funding, an NGB, or any other organisation involved in sport
and physical activity that is requiring information to help you
make a difference.
Contact us: info@activegloucestershire.org
Phone: 07510 135118