We're experiencing a public health emergency. This is an open letter to all political party leaders

A coalition of more than 40 leaders from across British sport have written to the main political parties to request a public commitment to tackle the “alarming public health emergency” of inactivity among young people.

The open letter, published today, has been signed by the chief executives of major sports governing bodies and charities, including the Football Association, the English Cricket Board, England Athletics, the Lawn Tennis Association and the Youth Sport Trust. Read the open letter below:

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