New reports offer in-depth look at inequalities in sport and activity

Drawing from five years of data, Annual Disability and Activity Survey: Secondary Analysis provides vital insights into the barriers disabled people face when it comes to being active. Two reports published today explore regional differences in disabled people’s lived experiences of being physically active and demographic influences on sport and physical activity.

Between 2019 and 2024 the Annual Disability and Activity Survey, surveyed over 10,000 people, including 5,113 disabled and 5,298 non-disabled respondents. Those yearly reports highlight significant variations in participation, enjoyment, and representation based on region, gender, age, sexual orientation, and type of impairment.

New findings from extensive analysis of that data has shown that only half (51%) of disabled people across the country feel they have the opportunity to be active. It reveals a particularly sharp divide for those living with mental health problems, who are even less likely to feel they have access to sport and physical activity.

Yet the desire is clearly present, with 80% of disabled respondents expressing a wish to be more active, with this figure rising to 84% in the East of England. Enjoyment also remains high, with nearly 7 in 10 (69%) saying they enjoyed their last physical activity experience. Yorkshire and the Humber stood out, with 75% of disabled people there reporting a positive experience.

The Activity Alliance Research team are hosting an online webinar to discuss the findings on Wednesday 13th August at 13:30. Book your place on Eventbrite.

The findings across both reports cover a wide area including what demographic factors (such as ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and impairment) are most associated with positive or negative experiences in sports and activities among disabled and non-disabled people. They look into what demographic factors are most associated with disabled people’s perceptions of representation in participation, employment, and volunteering in sport and physical activity. They also examine how participation and experiences vary for disabled people in different regional locations.

"Inequality in access to and participation in physical activity for disabled people and those with long-term health conditions is a well-recognised issue across the sector," said Rose Fawcett, research consultant, who was a key figure in producing the two reports.

"This project provided an important opportunity to explore those inequalities in greater depth. By revisiting their extensive ADAS data through a fresh lens, Activity Alliance posed new research questions and uncovered valuable insights.

"For example, the analysis highlighted regional disparities in disabled people’s enjoyment of physical activity, and identified specific types of impairments most commonly linked to limited opportunities. These findings offer organisations a clearer understanding of the barriers faced, helping to inform more inclusive and accessible practices.

"Crucially, this work demonstrates that there is still much to uncover—both within ADAS and other data sources."

Key findings include the confirmation that health and social care professionals are the most trusted source of advice, with 79% of disabled people relying on them for guidance about being active. However, the channels through which information is accessed are changing. The internet is now the most common source of information, used by 53% of disabled respondents.

Interestingly, disabled people who enjoy being active are significantly more likely to seek out online information than those who do not.

The release also highlights worrying trends in representation. Disabled people who are older, LGBT+, female, or from lower socio-economic backgrounds are less likely to see themselves as participants, workers, or volunteers in sport.

Only a small percentage of disabled people aged 65+ or disabled women envision themselves working in or volunteering for sport and physical activity. In contrast, ethnically diverse disabled people are more likely than their white counterparts to see themselves in such roles, and younger disabled people (aged 16–34) are the most likely to see themselves volunteering.

In response to these findings, Activity Alliance is calling on partners, policymakers, and sport providers to:

• Deepen their understanding of local and regional disparities and tailor solutions accordingly.
• Address intersectional inequalities, especially for disabled people who are female, LGBT+, or living with mental health problems.
• Empower health and social care professionals to act as connectors between disabled people and accessible physical activity opportunities.
• Improve the relevance and accessibility of online information.
• Increase representation of disabled people in both paid and volunteer sport and activity roles, with support from government policy reforms such as streamlined Access to Work processes.

"Disabled people’s experiences of sport and activity differ greatly depending on where they live and who they are," said Jake Netherway, Senior Research and Insight Advisor from Activity Alliance.

"Our goal is to use this data to ensure no one is left behind. Everyone deserves the chance to be active in a way that suits them. We would encourage organisations across the country to use these findings as a guide to conducting their own research. If you truly understand the barriers that disabled people experience, it is much easier to put solutions in place to offer accessible and inclusive opportunities."

To explore the full findings and regional breakdowns, visit the Activity Alliance website research page.