Kicking off 2023 with UKactive

The ukactive Public Affairs and Policy team continues its work on energy bills after the government’s announcement on energy bill support. This includes lobbying MPs, government departments and ministers, as well as working with strategic partners and stakeholder groups to coordinate a communications and lobbying strategy and statement.

There are roundtables taking place between DCMS and operators about energy costs, which will provide the department with useful insight. The data provided by ukactive’s members has been extremely useful so far in conveying to government the position the sector is in and has been complimented by DCMS on its depth. 

• Opposition engagement – We supported Labour in its preparation for a debate on sport in schools and communities, leading to them using ukactive research and data in the debate when speaking to the Government.

• Public Accounts Committee report – The Public Accounts Committee published its report on grassroots participation in sport and physical activity this month. ukactive submitted evidence for this report last year, and it has been useful to have the sector represented in this report.

• MP engagement – We have begun an MP engagement campaign and are already booking meetings with MPs. This will continue, with a large focus on the impact of energy costs on their local facilities.
  
  

Develop & grow: ukactive Leadership update

ukactive recently hosted more than 150 people at their first Strategic Partners Group (SPG) event of 2023, at Wallacespace in London. ukactive SPG members, including leaders from across the physical activity sector and public health, listened to Mike Farrar give his first speech as Chair of ukactive, setting out his vision for the sector’s role in the national renewal. An expert panel then discussed the details behind the vision and the opportunities for sector growth, before an evening of networking.
Read more here.

Guidance for automated monitoring and detection systems in public lifeguarded swimming pools 

ukactive, in partnership with RLSS, Swim England and CIMSPA, has developed guidance for consideration by UK swimming pool operators of public lifeguarded swimming pools that have or are considering installing an automated monitoring and detection system – please follow this link to download the guidance.