UK Coaching has welcomed the news from the latest Sport England Active Lives Adult Survey which shows record numbers of adults playing sport and taking part in physical activity.

The survey revealed that 63.7% of the adult population met the Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines of doing 150 minutes, or more, of moderate intensity physical activity a week – equivalent to 30 million adults in England playing sport or taking part in physical activity every week. It marks an increase of 2.4m since the first Active Live Survey results were published in 2016. 

The report recognises the role that volunteers (including coaches) have played in the upturn in physical activity, with 22.3% (roughly 10.5m adults) giving up their time to support sport and physical activity in their communities - a small increase (0.8%) over the last 12 months. 

However, the findings also highlighted the longstanding inequalities that remain, with women, those from lower socio-economic groups and Black and Asian people still less likely to be active than others. 

Heather Douglas, UK Coaching's Head of Coaching and Policy said:

“The news that record numbers of adults are taking part in sport and physical activity and nearly two thirds of adults now meet the Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines of doing 150 minutes, or more, of moderate intensity physical activity a week is positive and testament to the work done by coaches to create a more active nation. 

“We also welcome the recognition the report gives to the role of volunteers.

“Coaches have an important to play in tackling this and as an organisation UK Coaching will continue to tackle inequalities in sport and physical activity through our four strategic pillars of ‘Diversity’, ‘Inclusion’, ‘Recognition’.” 

Read the full survey on Sport England's here.