New report highlights need to tackle digital barriers to being active
A new report from Sport England and the Good Things Foundation shines a light on the growing role digital plays in how people access sport and physical activity.
From discovering local opportunities to booking sessions and staying connected, digital tools are now embedded throughout the journey to being active. However, the research finds that millions of people across the UK still face significant barriers. This included limited access to devices and connectivity, low confidence using online platforms, concerns about trust and safety, and inaccessible or poorly designed digital services.
These challenges are not experienced equally. The report highlights how people already facing inequalities in being active are also more likely to encounter digital barriers, reinforcing the link between digital exclusion and participation levels.
The findings point to the importance of a more inclusive approach across the sport and physical activity sector. Recommended actions include building a better understanding of digital needs, offering non-digital ways to access activities, improving the accessibility and usability of online platforms, and developing stronger local partnerships to support digital inclusion.
Activity Alliance contributed to the consultation for the research, with its resources referenced in the full report. The findings reflect ongoing work to remove barriers for disabled people and others facing inequality and underline the importance of inclusive design across both digital and physical environments.
The report calls for a sector-wide commitment to ensuring digital is an enabler rather than a barrier. By addressing these challenges, there is an opportunity to create more inclusive systems that support everyone to be active.
