Include to Improve
Include to Improve aims to create more opportunities for disabled people to take part, volunteer and work in sports and activities. This two-year programme is led by Activity Alliance and Sport for Confidence, funded by Sport England.
We know disabled people often feel over-looked and under-represented in many areas, including in the sport and physical activity sector. In fact, disabled people are less than half as likely to 'see people like them' working in sports and physical activity roles (Activity Alliance Annual Disability and Activity Survey 2022-23).
What is Include to Improve?
Include to Improve is a programme that aims to increase the number of high-quality accessible opportunities for disabled people to take part, volunteer and work in the sport and physical activity sector. It looks to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and cost-of-living crisis on disabled people's engagement with sports and activities at all levels.
What we've been up to so far
We set up two programme networks for disabled people and organisations and we are working collaboratively with these groups to improve existing services and shape new inclusive solutions across the sector.
Lived Experience Network for disabled people
Through our Lived Experience Network (LEN), we have created a safe space for disabled people to share their views of taking part and working in sport and physical activity.
We listen carefully to what people tell us and learn from their experiences. We then work together to influence positive change and shape our programme activities. The insight and guidance from our network are essential to everything we do.
To show our thanks, everyone who takes part in discussions, focus groups and engages with specific programme activities is reimbursed for their time. We also run a monthly adaptive activity session, giving members a chance to have fun, be social, and take part in activities together.
So far, we have co-created several resources around LEN guidelines and workplace adjustments which will be made available shortly.
Zoe, a member of the Lived Experience Network, said:
“It has been great to watch the documents evolve over time, and even better to see the feedback we collectively provided reflected so clearly in the final versions. The way the comments from the LEN hub, emails, and focus groups have been incorporated really shows the strength of the co-production approach."
Strategic Partner Network for organisations
Our Strategic Partner Network (SPN) is a collaborative group for organisations from different sectors including national disability sports partners, the voluntary and community sector, leisure and health, wanting to strengthen their commitment to disabled people's inclusion.
Following our survey on the barriers disabled people face in sport and physical activity, we brought partners together for a face-to-face event in July 2025.
The event featured keynote speakers, a lived experience panel from our LEN, and an interactive activity focused on inclusive recruitment, workplace adjustments, and attitudes and stigma.
Each partner left with a clear pledge, committing to collective action to reduce inequalities and ensure everyone feels they belong in our sector.
We have developed targeted support offers based on direct feedback from both members of the LEN and SPN. These offers focus on key challenges such as inclusive recruitment, workplace adjustments, organisational readiness and representation.
Each offer has been shaped by disabled people’s lived experiences, sector insight and programme evaluation activities, ensuring they are practical, relevant and make a real difference.
We are working closely with 15 organisations including leisure providers, Active Partnerships and national governing bodies, as well as charities and universities on the support offers listed below.
- Online resource hub
- Peer advocate support
- End to end recruitment audit
- HR consultancy
- Occupational therapy led support
- Bespoke offers
For more details about the support offers, download our guide Include to Improve Support Offers.
How to get involved with the programme?
Ready to take the next step with Include to Improve? Sign up below or get in touch with our team today to find out more or join one of our programme networks.
Email includetoimprove@activityalliance.org.uk or call 0808 175 6991 now. Our team is ready to support you and help you get started.
Join the Lived Experience Network - this link takes you to a short online survey to complete as part of the sign-up process.
Join the Strategic Partner Network - this link takes you to a short online survey to complete as part of the sign-up process.
