Community action – as we visit neighbourhoods nationwide:
Many of the residents in many areas where Showmen’s Guild members operate their fairs, who miss out on formal sport or going to the Gym, can easily and informally come to the fair at their local park and enjoy physical activity without social barriers and indeed with their families.
- Communities who already face the greatest challenges of inequalities who are also the most likely to be inactive.
- Adults living in the most deprived areas are twice as likely (and for children, three times as likely) to be inactive compared to the least deprived areas.
- Physical inactivity is also estimated to cost the UK £7.4 billion annually including nearly £1 billion to the NHS alone.
- Most importantly, physical inactivity is responsible for one in six premature deaths in the UK.
- Together, we can help all communities reap the rewards of an active life.
We are encouraging families of all ages to come to the fair and enjoy the healthy active benefits together. We are spurred on by the Active Lives Surveys that point to positive outcomes for those who would otherwise be at risk of the dangers of inactivity.
The Active Lives Survey 2022-23 – published April 2024: shows the potential for various sectors of the community to be active and to pursue active lives.
Those with least access to Gyms and social networks where formal activity is the norm, tend to miss out and this coincides with the poorer and more challenged neighbourhoods and sectors where many Showmen’s Guild members operate (in addition to other areas) with informal community activity that everyone can participate in.
We at the Guild need are developing statistics of our own on this and to remind the Local Govt. Assn. (LGA) of our community-positive position as we look to work closer with them to encourage our fairs in town centres and other communities.
Meanwhile, also the London Sport Impact Report from Sport England and London Sport (that was developed following the 2012 Olympics) Find out more.
Within this; London Sport is a charity (reg. No 1165100) that exists to help all Londoners live longer, healthier, and happier lives through being active.
Their focus is on children and adults in the most deprived communities who face the greatest challenges of inequality.
With physical inactivity responsible for 1 in 6 premature deaths, they want to help every Londoner find their way to move more. We at the Showmen’s Guild, with our members, are looking to support these ambitions through our members’ community operations.
They are supported by Sport England and the Mayor of London, and work in partnership with London’s local authorities and other organisations to provide better access to sport and physical activity across the capital.
Taking a place-based approach to their work, since 2014 as one of 43 Active Partnerships in the country, they focus resources, which tackle the barriers of inequality and inactivity, in areas where there is the greatest need but also the greatest opportunity to drive impact and sustainable change.
Across the Capital; this being a model for other cities and regions to follow.
Beyond improving physical health an active life can also improve mental health, reduce loneliness, and even help children perform better at school.
London is facing an inactivity crisis and not all Londoners have adequate access to sport and physical activity.
This is more noticeable following the Lockdowns of the recent pandemic.