7.7f How do the availability, quality, and funding of other related public services, such as youth services and school-based enrichment interact with wider economic conditions to shape opportunities for sport participation?
Background
To support the DCMS’s contribution to the nation’s health, economic growth and offering sporting opportunities for all, DCMS seeks to build a comprehensive evidence base to tackle inactivity and reduce inequalities. We require robust research into 'what works' in physical activity interventions, particularly those embedded within health and social care or delivering place-based solutions (to understand how they interact with wider public services and economic conditions to drive value for money). A critical priority within this is closing the significant evidence gap in women’s sport; we need cross-sector research on female-specific health and performance, alongside the development of international metrics, to support the UK’s ambition as a world leader. Underpinning these aims, DCMS seeks to innovate measurement by leveraging novel data sources and scalable incentive mechanisms, providing the granular, real-time insights necessary to target resources effectively and deliver on the promise of prevention.
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Related UKRI funded projects
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'Leaders Like Us': Co-designing a framework to develop young physical activity leader programmes for girls from underserved groups
There are stubborn inequalities in children and young people's physical activity (PA) levels. Girls, and people from deprived areas and ethnic minority backgrounds are the least active. Inequalities in PA levels have bee...
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Why might this be relevant?
This project specifically focuses on developing young female PA leaders from underserved groups, aligning with the goal of closing the evidence gap in women's sport and promoting physical activity among girls.
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Football for Health: Increasing physical activity levels and improving mental health and wellbeing of girls and women in Somalia
Being physically active is important as it reduces the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. Both physical activity and the social engagement that accompanies sport activities are also benef...
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Lead research organisation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Why might this be relevant?
While the project focuses on increasing physical activity and improving mental health of girls and women in Somalia through football, it does not directly address the interaction of public services and economic conditions with sport participation.
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Widening the Wicket: Tackling Barriers and Supporting Cricket Participation for Women of Ethnic Minorities
There is plenty of evidence for inequalities in physical and mental health. A recent Birmingham City Council (2025) report showed lower healthy life expectancy for women in Birmingham compared to the national average. In...
Funded by: ESRC
Lead research organisation: UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
Why might this be relevant?
This project aims to enhance the uptake of physical activity programs for women from ethnic minorities, which aligns with the goal of promoting sport participation among underserved groups, but does not directly address the interaction with wider economic conditions.