An open letter to all political party leaders

Read the open letter addressed to leaders of all the main UK political parties. The letter calls for investment in teacher training and school sport facilities among ensuring every young person enjoys 60 minutes of sport and physical activity every day.

On behalf of the country’s leading sport organisations, we ask for your commitment to tackle an alarming trend.

The wellbeing of young people across the UK is in decline. This comes at a time when they are increasingly missing out on the benefits of sport and play. Only one in five young people is active for 60 minutes every day and Physical Education is being squeezed from the timetable

in many secondary schools.

We believe that the inactivity of young people, and the associated problems this is posing for their physical and mental health and wellbeing, is nothing short of a public health emergency. Too many are growing up overweight or obese, unhappy, lost and lonely. We ask for your public commitment during this General Election campaign that, should your party form the next government, you would set out a long-term, bold and measurable plan to:

i) Tackle the decline in young people’s wellbeing through harnessing the power of

play, sport and physical education

ii) Ensure every young person enjoys an hour a day of sport and physical activity, backed up by good quality teacher training and investment in school sport facilities.

During this campaign you will be setting out some of your biggest priorities for shaping our country’s future. We urge you to make this one of them.

Yours sincerely,

Signatories:

Adrian Christy, CEO, Badminton England
 
Andrew Scoular, CEO, British Judo Association
 
Andy Parkinson, CEO, British Rowing
 
Anna Hall, Head of Participation, British Equestrian Federation
 
Arun Kang, CEO, Sporting Equals
 
Ashley Metcalfe, CEO, British Weight Lifting
 
Barry Horne, CEO, Activity Alliance
 
Brendon Pyle, CEO, Golf Foundation
 
Chris Allbut, Director of Programmes, Greenhouse Sports
 
Chris Jones, CEO, England Athletics
 
Dan Newton, Development Director, Rounders England
 
Dan Newton, CEO, Parkour UK
 
Georgina Usher, CEO, British Fencing
 
Gethin Jenkins, CEO, England Boxing
 
Huw Edwards, CEO, ukactive
 
Jane Allen, CEO, British Gymnastics
 
Jane Nickerson, CEO, Swim England
 
Fran Connolly, CEO, England Netball
 
John Boyd, CEO, BaseballSoftballUK Ltd
 
Julie Harrington, CEO, British Cycling
 
Laura Cordingley, CEO, Chance to Shine
 
Lee Mason, CEO, Active Partnerships
 
Lisa Pearce, CEO, British Wheelchair Basketball
 
Lisa Wainwright, CEO, Sport & Recreation Alliance
 
Mark Bullingham, CEO, The Football Association
 
Mark Winder, CEO, Goalball UK
 
Mark Gannon, CEO, UK Coaching
 
Mike Bain, CEO, England Handball Association
 
Peter Hart, CEO, British Orienteering
 
Ralph Rimmer, CEO, Rugby Football League
 
Richard Norman, CEO, Sports Leaders
 
Nick Pink, CEO, England Hockey
 
Scott Lloyd, CEO, LTA
 
Simon Hill, CEO, UK Ultimate Ltd
 
Steve Grainger, Rugby Development Director, Rugby Football Union
 
Stewart Kellett, CEO, Basketball England
 
Sue Wilkinson, CEO, AfPE
 
Tara Dillon, CEO, CIMSPA
 
Tom Harrison, CEO, England & Wales Cricket Board
 
Stephanie Hilborne, CEO, Women In Sport
 
Ali Oliver, CEO, Youth Sport Trust
Published on 19 November 2019