Play, move, belong: Active futures for young disabled people (Nov 25)
This research report explores young disabled and non-disabled people’s experiences and perceptions of sport and physical activity. The findings highlight a persistent and widening gap in physical activity participation.
Activity Alliance worked with a group of supporting partners on this project: Sport England, Access Sport, Loughbrough University, ParalympicsGB and Youth Sport Trust.
We surveyed 521 young disabled people and 506 young non-disabled people aged 5 to 16, and their parents, supporters or caregivers. Despite similar motivations and preferences, the findings show young disabled people face more barriers, fewer opportunities, and lower confidence, especially those with multiple impairments or mental health problems.
An infographic summary of the key findings and full research report were published in November 2025.
The infographic summary is also available in Easy Read and British Sign Language translation video with subtitles and voiceover. See below for accessible formats.
Key findings
How active are young disabled people?
Every day young disabled people move less than young non-disabled people.
- Only 3% are considered active, moving for 60+ minutes per day.
- Half (52%) are fairly active, moving between 30 and 59 minutes per day.
- Four in ten (43%) are considered less active, moving for less than 30 minutes per day.
How do young disabled people feel about sports and activities and what motivates them?
- Not many feel sport and activity is ‘for them’ or see ‘people like them’ playing or taking part.
- Only half say sports are easy or that they feel confident doing them.
- Four in ten want to be more active and just one in four can always join in PE or school sports.
- They are motivated to take part because they enjoy it and have fun (57%), want to be more healthy (55%), and it builds their confidence (39%).
- Reasons that young disabled people don't take part are because they don't feel confident or comfortable. Other barriers include, not wanting to go on their own, a fear of not fitting in, feeling like they won’t belong, and concerns about their impairments or health conditions.
What type of activites do young disabled poeple like to do, where do they like to do them, and who do they like to take part with?
- Young disabled people like to do quiet activities and activites that are just for fun. They also like taking part in group activites, and activities that take place outdoors.
- They like to be active with a mixture of disabled and non-disabled children, and a mixture of girls and boys.
- Young disabled people most like to be active at school, in outdoor spaces (like the park, seaside or street) or at home.
The insight from this research forms the foundation of a three-year programme beginning in October 2025, led by Activity Alliance, to understand more about young disabled people’s experiences of sport and physical activity, and how to tackle inequalities.
View the infogaphic and full research report
Accessible format research summaries
Here is a summary of the research key findings and recommendations in Easy Read and a British Sign Language translation video with subtitles and a voiceover.
Click to view Easy Read summary - Play Move Belong: Active futures for young disabled people
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 0808 175 6991.
