Our research story brought to life
Since 2012 our research has placed disabled people’s lived experiences at the centre of understanding inequality in sport and physical activity.
At Activity Alliance, we believe lasting change starts by listening. In 2012, we expanded our research to place disabled people’s lived experiences at the centre of understanding inequality in sport and physical activity.
Since then, our research has explored the barriers disabled people face, the opportunities they want, and how the sector can respond more inclusively.
From early reports such as Understanding the barriers to participation in sport, through to influential research like Talk to Me, The Activity Trap and My Active Future, our insight has shaped inclusive practice, informed government policy and supported organisations to do better.
Our flagship Annual Disability Activity Survey, launched in 2020, continues to build a powerful evidence base showing that disabled people want to be more active but lack fair access to opportunities.
In 2024 we released a report examining the social value of disabled people’s physical activity. It found that the ‘activity gap’ between disabled and non-disabled people has a cost to society of £10.9 billion. This figure would be the additional value if activity levels were the same between both groups.
Being active brings clear physical, mental and social benefits yet many disabled people are still excluded from these opportunities. They are almost twice as likely to be physically inactive as non-disabled people, a gap that has persisted for years.
This video brings our research journey to life, showing how our insight has driven programme development, influenced decision-makers and highlighted the social value of closing the activity gap. It reflects our commitment to working with disabled people and partners to turn insight into action.
Real change happens when we work together. By listening, learning and acting, we can create a more inclusive and active future where everyone belongs in sports and activities.
You can watch the video on our YouTube channel.
Inclusive research and evaluation are critical tools to help improve opportunities for disabled people. It must reflect people’s real lived experiences and ensure their voices are represented. This approach helps us identify powerful insights that drive fairer outcomes and support more informed decision-making.
Want to learn more about inclusive research?
Whether you're a seasoned researcher or new to evaluation, our Inclusive research and evaluation eLearning course will provide you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make your work truly inclusive, impactful and accessible. All courses on our Learning Hub are CIMSPA accredited, meaning that you will receive 1 CIMSPA CPD point if you complete the course.
