A dedicated chapter written by UK Coaching is included in the policy document ‘The Road to the 2024 Election Manifesto – Over 100 Policy Ideas for Sport, Physical Activity and Well-being’, published today by the Sports Think Tank.

The 165-page document presents policy calls, ideas, and proposals from 29 physical activity sector organisations. The Sports Think Tank asked each organisation to create resource-neutral policies which they would want the UK’s political parties to champion in their forthcoming manifestos and first 100 days in office.  

Our chapter on the coaching system, entitled  ‘Three Million Reasons Why Coaching Matters’ , underscores the importance and impact of coaching on reducing inactivity and health inequalities.

The chapter (Pages 115-124) includes the following policy proposals:

• establish an APPG on Coaching
• make Duty to Care mandatory for coaches
• set agreed deployment standards
• advocate for professional services for coaches, provided by UK Coaching
• modernised, inclusive learning and assessment opportunities
• conduct more in-depth research into the impact of coaching.

Policy calls from other organisations range from cutting red tape, raising standards and suggestions on how to redirect existing funding to more specific proposals – such as elevating the status of PE within the curriculum, including active environments in planning policies and changing the Highway Code.

Many of the contributors to the Sports Think Tank document also call for greater governmental intervention to help drive much needed change in the sector itself. 

There are proposals to introduce new legislation and more regulation to make certain policies mandatory and improve the performance of the sector. 

Addressing the deep-seated inequalities across the sector is another common theme among the proposed policies, as are ensuring better provision for children and young people, embedding activity in Further Education and moving the sector towards health and well-being, especially through prevention in integrated care systems.

Commenting on the publication of the document, Kim Leadbeater MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Sport, said: 

“It is not hyperbole to claim that physical activity remains one of the most under-used resources we have at our disposal when tackling some of our most persistent challenges, from easing the pressures on the NHS, tackling crime and improving economic productivity to finding ways to level up.

“Perhaps most importantly – and this is where political parties should prick up their ears – the contributors were challenged to make each policy call cost-neutral. In these economically trying times, this aspect alone should make the document essential reading. 

“Another aspect that adds value to this document is the sheer variety of the ideas within it. From activating primary school children to engaging the elderly and from community sport to elite performance, nearly every aspect of sport, wellbeing and physical activity is covered.”

Andy Reed OBE, founder and director of Sports Think Tank, said: “We know there is no shortage of reports, ideas and policy asks produced by the sector. They all add to the case and are very welcome. 

“But we felt there was still some space for organisations who don’t always get heard but have something useful to add.

"It also has become clear that the sector will not be able to rely on additional government spending. Indeed, the predicted department spend is likely to fall during the current cycle. So, we asked our contributors to produce policy ideas that remain resource-neutral for the government over the budget cycle. While it is easier to ask for large policy wins, with resource implications, we felt using the principle of marginal gains – so well used in sporting circles – was a fresh, much-needed approach.

“We aim for the work we have done to collect these policy ideas to be the start of an iterative process involving both the contributors and policy makers.”

The organisations who contributed their policy ideas ranged from national governing bodies of sport, universities and colleges, charities, industry bodies and consultants to architects and commercial companies. The full list of contributors is:

UK Coaching, Youth Sport Trust, Play England, Activity Alliance, Women in Sport, Sported, UK Sport, The Active Partnership Network, Sporting Equals, Loughborough College, StreetGames, Intelligent Health, British Judo Association, British Canoeing, Loughborough University, Active IQ, Sportily, Sport for Development Coalition, State of Life, David Morley Architects, Max Associates, SLC, Fitmedia, Data Sport 80, Oaks Consultancy, Farrars Building Chambers, Sports Communications, Henham Strategy.