Reflections from our outgoing Chair
It’s fantastic to see our charity’s impact in many different areas this year. Reading through this Annual Report I am reminded of the great things we have achieved, and the progress we have made. This is all thanks to the hard work, determination and passion of our talented staff team and Board trustees.
This is an exciting time for Activity Alliance following the launch of our new strategy – We all belong. It addresses the major barriers that disabled children and adults face when trying to be active or work in sports and activities. The launch event held at Lord’s Cricket Ground in December was a real highlight for me. It was empowering to be in the same room as many great leaders from across sport, physical activity and health, all coming together for the same vision. It is clear that working together is when we can make the most important change happen.
I am sad to say that this is my last Annual Report as Chair. I became Chair in 2018, just as we were rebranding from the English Federation of Disability Sport to Activity Alliance. Since then, we have faced many tests and challenges, quite notably the global pandemic leading on to very difficult times for our society. These times have made us stronger, more compassionate, more resourceful, and more determined to make sure we continue to make a difference in the face of adversity.
I believe Activity Alliance is well placed to continue its powerful and vital work in collaboration with our excellent partners to ensure all disabled people feel they belong in sports and activities. I am proud of this charity and excited for its future.
Thank you all so much for your continued support.
Samantha Orde OBE
Outgoing Chair
Message from our Chief Executive
What a great year for Activity Alliance. The many projects we’ve delivered, the research we’ve carried out, the insight we’ve shared, the training opportunities and programmes we’ve launched, and our work in policy. I couldn’t be prouder of the team and the difference we are making every day.
We are creating change and improving disabled people's lives through sport and physical activity. We have made great strides this year but there is still so much more to do. Many people still do not have access to meaningful opportunities to be active, and so our important work continues.
Our ambitious new strategy – We all belong, is the result of a powerful collaboration of knowledge, insight and consultation. We reviewed and updated our vision and mission in response to environment we work in and to better meet disabled people’s needs.
A big part of our new strategy is re-emphasising the need to work collectively, with partners, funders, and supporters to remove the systemic barriers that prevent disabled people accessing sports and activities. We know collaboration is best and by sharing the challenge we can build a powerful movement and have a greater impact.
Engagement with policy makers is also vital in our fight for fairness. Whether in health, transport or education, policy makers play a vital role in ensuring more disabled people feel that they belong. This year we released a powerful manifesto presenting insight and drawing upon people’s highly valuable lived experiences. Our manifesto is still relevant, and we will continue to use it to ensure disabled people have more influence on policies that affect them.
Finally, I want to say thank you to our outgoing Chair, Sam Orde OBE. Over the past seven years her leadership and guidance has been a constant source of support for our trustees, staff team, and to me. Under her tenure Activity Alliance has grown into a robust, influential organisation with a dedicated team, strong finances and a long-term strategy.
There are so many things to look forward to in a new financial year, and many opportunities ahead of us. I hope you will join us as we all work toward creating a better future for everyone.
Adam Blaze
CEO
This year's impact
Launching our new strategy – We all belong
A highlight of this year, and a major milestone, was the release of our highly anticipated new strategy – We all belong. It is the result of a powerful collaboration of knowledge, insight and consultation with disabled people, our partners and networks. We are now excited to be working toward our new vision – a future where all disabled people feel they belong in sports and activities.
All our work is underpinned by three new ambitions:
- Sports and activities meet disabled people's needs.
- Disabled people influence campaigning, policy and decision making.
- Address inequalities by working with others.
Our strategy may have changed, but our values remain, and our work continues to reflect how we care, unite with others, and champion disabled people.
"We all belong in sports and activities. Yet many disabled children and adults don’t feel that they do. At school, in the local park or working out in a nearby gym, we all have the right to welcoming, inclusive, and accessible opportunities."
Honorary President Tanni, Baroness Grey-ThompsonDisabled people’s activity could contribute £6.2k per person per year
International Day for Disabled People on 3 December was a big day for Activity Alliance as we released our social value report and launched our new strategy.
Building on Sport England’s social value report for the whole population, we worked with the same experts as them, State of Life, on a specific assessment of disabled people’s activity. We found there is £6,200 social value per disabled person per year if supported to meet the official Chief Medical Officers’ (CMO) guidelines of 150 plus minutes a week. This works out three to four times’ the value of non-disabled people being active. To give a comparison of size, this figure is almost equivalent to being employed rather than unemployed, which has a social value of £7,000.
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Disabled people’s activity could contribute £6.2k per person per year
We launch our new strategy 'We all belong' with a social value report on disabled people being active.
New ambassadors take on charity role to tackle inequalities in sport
Following the launch of our new strategy in December, we were very excited to announce our first Ambassadors for the charity. We welcomed Eve Roberts, Ben Andrews, Temi Johnson, and Harrie Larrington-Spencer.
Read more about this here: New ambassadors take on charity role to tackle inequalities in sport.
Phil Friend OBE made Vice President
After serving nine years as a trustee, Dr Phil Friend OBE Hon D.Sc. FRSA was named as Activity Alliance Vice President at the charity’s Annual General Meeting in October. He becomes the second Vice President for the organisation alongside John Amaechi OBE.
Phil is acknowledged as one of the UK's foremost consultants on disability matters. A powerful and highly popular communicator, he has provided consultancy, training and mentoring support to many of the country's best known companies.
Read more about this here: ‘Delighted and honoured’ - Phil Friend OBE made Vice President.
"I don’t want to lose the relationships I’ve got with the organisation, and I believe in what it’s trying to do. So, if I can help keep that journey going in my own way I’m going to do it, I’m delighted and honoured. The nine years that I spent with the Alliance has seen enormous growth, we are much more engaged."
Dr Phil Friend OBE Hon D.Sc. FRSAActivity Alliance launches manifesto for next government
In April 2024, and ahead of the General Election, we launched our manifesto for change - Fight for fairness: Disabled people’s right to sport and physical activity. It was developed with contributions and insight from disabled people, advocates and organisations in the sport, physical activity, and voluntary sector.
To ensure disabled people have equal access to sports and activities, we called upon the next government to:
- Protect the benefits – Provide clearer understanding and wider safeguarding to reassure disabled people that being regularly active will not threaten their benefits and other forms of government financial assistance.
- Equip health and care workers – With NHS, ensure that better processes are in place for health and care workers to support disabled people to use physical activity in ways which work best for them.
- Increase accessible outdoor spaces – Take a leading role in promoting and legislating design standards that ensure accessibility in local and national spaces.
Read more about this here: Activity Alliance launches manifesto for next government
Fifth Annual Survey reveals disabled people remain left behind
In June we released the results of our fifth Annual Disability and Activity Survey (ADAS) revealing that disabled people still face significant barriers when trying to be active in their communities. The report showed disabled people are twice as likely to be inactive than non-disabled people, a disparity that has remained consistent since the first report was released five years ago.
Annual Disability and Activity Survey 2023-2024
Read more here: Fifth Annual Survey reveals disabled people remain left behind.
As part of the launch of our ADAS results, we hosted a free online event to share the findings and discuss recommendations.
One hundred and seventy people attended the event, hosted by Paralympian and Chair of CIMSPA Marc Woods, with Activity Alliance Research and Insight Manager Annabel Storer-Carter sharing the main findings from the research. It also featured a powerful panel discussion with three disabled people who took part in the research.
You can watch the recording of the ADAS webinar here.
Activity Alliance Learning Hub the new home for inclusive training
In July, we were proud to announce that we became a Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) Training Provider Partner. This moment marked the start of a journey to ensure everything that we offer is CIMSPA endorsed, meaning learners receive valuable CPD points for their time.
Shortly after, in September, we were very excited to launch the Activity Alliance Learning Hub, bringing all our courses and workshops into one easy-to-access digital space.
Within the year, 1,834 people completed an eLearning course, all now empowered with practical tools, creative ideas and resources to be more inclusive for disabled people.
With just four in ten (43%) disabled people feeling they have the chance to be as active as they want, the need for high-quality training has never been more important. We want more people to benefit from the opportunity to learn, develop and use this knowledge to be more inclusive in their own activities.
Read more about this here: Activity Alliance Learning Hub the new home for inclusive training.
Swimming Championships thrill as international event
June saw our annual British Junior Para Swimming Championships take place in Coventry. Organised in partnership with Swim England, the event aims to increase participation and talent development opportunities for young disabled swimmers. It’s a starting block for national competition for many swimmers, with several top world and Paralympic medallists, including Ellie Simmonds, beginning their own success at the prestigious meet. For the first time, this year’s Championships saw swimmers from outside the UK join those competing from the home nations.
"It’s been a really nice experience and I am thrilled to have been able to swim here. I would love to come back."
Carlos, 17, swam as part of a Spanish contingent.Festival of athletics enjoyed at National Championships
In July it was time for our National Junior Para Athletics Championships at Coventry Athletics Track in Warwick where we welcomed more than 130 disabled athletes. The event is supported by the Lions Club International, British Athletics, and England Athletics.
From podium places to personal bests there was something to celebrate for everyone that took part. It has a proud history of giving disabled athletes the opportunity to compete in a major event, playing a pivotal part in helping them to reach their potential.
"It’s been really good. Everyone is really welcoming and supportive of each other. I’ll definitely be back next year. I’m quite athletic and really enjoy sports. I play wheelchair basketball (for Coventry Wheelchair Basketball Academy). I’ve competed at the youth games, international children’s games."
Tristan, 14, made his debut at the national event. Competing on his home track he picked up gold medals in the 60m, 100m and 200m.
"This is a wonderful and very uplifting event run by Activity Alliance, I’m really pleased to be a part of it. The children are so wonderful, very supportive with each other. They’re all very talented and it’s wonderful to watch."
Geoff and Pam are part of the Lions Club Barton, supporting the event with Lions Clubs International.
New Include to Improve programme with Sport for Confidence
In partnership with Sport for Confidence, we were very proud to launch Include to Improve in March, a two-year programme to create more opportunities for disabled people to take part, volunteer and work in sports and activities.
Funded by Sport England’s recover and reinvent fund, the programme 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.
As part of the programme we introduced a new Lived Experience Network – a safe space for disabled people to share their views of taking part and working in the sport and physical activity sector. We also launched a Strategic Partner Network to bring together many organisations from different sectors including national disability sports partners, the voluntary and community sector, leisure and health. All united by the Include to Improve aim and their own desire to strengthen their commitment to inclusion.
Read more about this here: Activity Alliance and Sport for Confidence launch Include to Improve.
Thousands more active thanks to the power of Get Out Get Active
In July we released a very positive impact report for our flagship programme Get Out Get Active (GOGA). Designed to support disabled and non-disabled people to enjoy being active together, GOGA has reached over 160,000 people since its inception in 2016. The report shows GOGA strengthens communities, with six in ten participants saying they are now more connected within their community. Seven in ten have continued to be active and maintained their activity levels outside of the GOGA programme. As well as participants there have been more than 4,000 volunteers engaged at sessions, with almost three in ten disabled volunteers.
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Thousands more active thanks to the power of Get Out Get Active
Today Get Out Get Active releases its impact report, showing thousands of people across the UK have been given the opportunity to be active.
Organisational wellbeing
We are committed to being an organisation where people feel they belong and a workplace where they can thrive. We pride ourselves on building a positive culture that ensures we get the best out of our people and resources.
In partnership with Hable, we delivered a focused digital skills programme designed to upskill colleagues in the effective use of Microsoft Teams and broader Microsoft 365 tools. This training directly addressed knowledge gaps, particularly around digital collaboration, file management, and accessible communication. The training also targeted increasing confidence in managing shared files, creating accessible content, engaging in inclusive online meetings, and using digital platforms more consistently and efficiently across teams. This investment not only enhanced productivity but also supported a more cohesive and digitally resilient workplace culture.
We supported our managers with targeted training on how to build their personal resilience, tackle conversations around performance effectively and encourage open and honest feedback. This was part of a broader commitment to psychologically safe leadership, emotionally intelligent management practices and fostering a healthier, more supportive working environment.
This year, we also invested in building greater organisational confidence in managing risk. Our management team took part in training on Activity Alliance’s risk management framework, focusing on how it applies in their day-to-day roles and areas of responsibility.
Diversity and inclusion in the workplace
We remain committed to making Activity Alliance a charity that truly reflects the communities we serve. Championing equality, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (EDIB) has been central to both our workplace culture and the services we provide. Throughout the year, we continued to implement our Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), led by a member of the Leadership Team, and support from the Equality Diversity Inclusion and Belonging working group.
Our diversity profile
We use the social model of disability in our approach to all work. However, we know that some definitions used for protected characteristics can challenge this model, in particular the disability definition. The social model emphasises that it is society and barriers created by society that disable people, not a person’s impairment or condition.
We recognise this difference in our diversity profile by presenting two figures for disability. Figure one presents the percentage of people with an impairment and/or long-term health condition. Figure two presents the percentage of people with a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and
‘long-term’ negative effect on everyday life. Figure two aligns closely to the definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010.
These are the findings from December 2024 and January 2025 Board and staff equal opportunities survey conducted among employees and Board members:
Activity Alliance diversity profile figures - (percentage of total number)
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- People with an impairment, long-term health condition or illness - Staff 36% Board 63% (Staff 45% in 2023).
- People with a physical or mental impairment that has a 'substantial' and 'long-term' negative effect on their ability to do normal daily activites - Staff 50% (of 36% who said they have an impairment, health condition or illness) Board 60% (of 63% who said they have an impairment, health condition or illness) (Staff 19% in 2023)
- Female - Staff 58% Board 88% (Staff 67% in 2023)
- Lesbian, gay, bisexual - Staff 9% Board 0% (Staff 12% in 2023)
- From an ethnically diverse background - Staff 15% Board 0% (Staff 10% in 2023)
Financial wellbeing and fundraising
Activity Alliance’s total income for the financial year 2024-25 amounted to £2,978,065. Sport England investment continues to be one of the charity’s largest funding contributions and we are proud to be considered one of their system partners. Their financial backing means we can deliver programmes and services that help others to embed good practice and change attitudes towards disabled people in sport and activity.
Sport England also continued to provide significant funding contributions for Get Out Get Active (GOGA) programme delivery.
We received £30,000 from a legacy, which will help us greatly towards achieving our charity objectives.
Our fundraising events included support from generous people taking part in the London Marathon and other community activities.
This year we continued to develop our income generation activities to ensure our future is secure. The focus on our income generation strategy allows us to grow ideas and will lead us to work with different funders in the future.
A full breakdown of Activity Alliance's income and expenditure for the year end 31 March 2025 is available in the financial review section of this report.
The charity’s unrestricted fundraising activities are undertaken by our own expert team, with guidance from the senior management team and Board of Trustees. The charity is a member of the Fundraising Regulator and abides by the Fundraising Code of Practice which covers various aspects of fundraising. Activity Alliance is understanding and compassionate towards its supporters and will never exploit vulnerabilities. No complaints have been received by the charity directly about its fundraising activities during this year.
Annual Report 2024-25 alternative formats
Here you will find a summary of our annual impact highlights for the year 2024-25 in various alternative formats.
British Sign Language translation
This video provides a summary of our annual impact highlights in British Sign Language. It also features captions and an audio voiceover.
Watch British Sign Language summary of Activity Alliance Annual Trustees' Report 2024-25
Easy read summary
We have also provided our annual impact summary in easy read format. Easy Read uses pictures to support the meaning of text and give the essential details without a lot of background information.
View Activity Alliance Annual Trustee's Report 2024-25 easy read summary