Overview
In December 2025, Sport England published its findings from the latest Active Lives Children and Young People Survey and whilst more children than ever are taking part in physical activity, too many are missing out on the benefits of an active lifestyle.
The Active Lives Children and Young People Survey 2024-25 shows that children’s participation in sport and physical activity in England is at its highest level since the survey began in 2017. Over 580,000 more children are meeting the Chief Medical Officers’ (CMO) guidelines of 60 minutes of activity per day, reflecting a 5.8% increase. However, less than half (49.1%) of children meet the CMO’s recommendations, with significant disparities in activity levels among different demographic groups.
The report’s key findings:
- Increased participation: More children are active post-pandemic, with 49.1% meeting the CMO guidelines, but 28.4% still do less than 30 mins activity per day.
- Inequalities: Participation varies by ethnicity, socioeconomic status and gender. Black and Asian children, as well as those from lower-income families, are less likely to be active. Girls, in particular, are less active than boys, with a notable gender gap in specific ethnic groups.
- Mental and social benefits: Active children report better mental wellbeing and are more likely to exhibit positive traits like persistence and trust in peers.
- The survey explores children’s physical literacy, attitudes toward activity and types of sports they engage in. Trends in “active travel” (walking, cycling) have risen, showing a cultural shift towards healthier habits.
Challenges and next steps:
While there has been progress, inequalities persist and more needs to be done to ensure all children, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds, have access to opportunities for physical activity. Efforts are underway to increase targeted investment and create accessible, enjoyable activities, such as through local partnerships and initiatives like the ‘Let’s Move!’ campaign and the ‘Studio You’ platform for girls.
The report highlights the importance of continued focus on creating safe, engaging environments for all children to be active, regardless of their background.
Active Travel Commissioner and Sport England Chair, Chris Boardman is positive about the upwards trend in activity levels:
“The fact that 1.2 million more children are travelling actively than seven years ago shows a real cultural shift beginning to take hold. After the disruption of the pandemic, this upward trend is especially encouraging….But this is also a reminder of what’s possible when we create streets, routes and communities where safe, everyday movement is the easy choice. If we create people-friendly places and give families real alternatives to the car, we can help an entire generation build active habits that last a lifetime.”
Whether it is an outdoor gym, playground equipment, park trail or all-weather pitch, if you are looking to create an exciting environment for sport and play in your local school or play park, do contact our team today and let us help you transform your outdoor space to encourage active lifestyles.