Activity Alliance Annual Survey Secondary Analysis (August 2025)
Our Annual Disability and Activity Survey (ADAS) has provided in-depth insights into issues that matter most to disabled people about sports and activities since 2019. It complements Sport England’s annual Active Lives Adult Survey. Looking at the data from the last five years, we worked with data analyst, Rose Fawcett, to understand what regional and demographic factors affect disabled people’s experiences to take part in sports and activities.
These two reports are based on data from 10,411 people who took part in ADAS between 2019 to 2024, including 5,113 disabled people and 5,298 non-disabled people.
Key findings
Experiences of being active
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Across all regions, only five in ten (51%) disabled people agree that they have the opportunity to be active. Disabled people with mental health problems, are less likely to have the opportunity to be active compared with other disabled people.
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Seven in ten (69%) disabled people agreed that they enjoyed the last time they took part in a sport or physical activity. Disabled people in Yorkshire and Humber (75%) are most likely to enjoy being active in England. Disabled women are less likely to have enjoyed the last time they were active compared with disabled men.
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Eight in ten (80%) disabled people agree that they would like to be more active. Disabled people in the East of England (84%) would like to be more active. People with mental health problems or a mobility impairment are more likely to want to do more activity compared with other disabled people.
Advice and information on being active
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Health and social care professionals (79%) are the most likely source of advice for disabled people to be active, followed by personal contact (37%) and sporting or activity sources (31%). Disabled people with a mobility impairment are less likely to seek advice from a healthcare professional whereas someone with a mental health problem is more likely to seek advice compared to other disabled people.
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Disabled people are most likely to find information about sports and activities on the internet and online (53%), followed by personal contacts (38%) and sports and leisure organisations (37%). Disabled people who enjoy sport and activity are more likely to seek information online than disabled people who don’t enjoy being active.
Representation in sport and activity
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Disabled people in lower social grades, are LGBT+, are a woman, or are aged 65+, are less likely to see themselves being active than other disabled people.
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Disabled people aged 65+ and disabled women are less likely to see themselves working in sports and activities compared to other disabled people. Ethnically diverse disabled people are more likely to see themselves working in sports and activities compared to white disabled people.
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Older disabled people aged 65+ and LGBT+ disabled people are less likely to see themselves volunteering in sports and activities compared to other disabled people. Younger disabled people aged 16-34 are most likely to see themselves volunteering in sport and activity.
Access the reports
You can read and download the full reports here:
Activity Alliance Annual Survey Secondary Analysis Demographic Report (August 2025)
Activity Alliance Annual Survey Secondary Analysis Regional Report (August 2025)
Accessible formats
We have also produced a summary of key findings from both reports in British Sign Langauge and Easy Read.
British Sign Language, subtitles and audio summary
Easy Read Activity Alliance Annual Survey Secondary Analysis (August 2025)
Please contact our research team to discuss how to access, interpret, and use the data. Or if you require any further support to access these reports, or would like to request accessible Word copies, email research@activityalliance.org.uk or call 08081 756991.
