Mid Sussex residents are striding ahead when it comes to taking part in sport. Latest figures released by the sports survey experts at Active People show Mid Sussex has the highest level of sports participation in the whole of Sussex.
Active People is the largest survey of sport and active recreation ever carried out in Europe. Results are tracked continuously online and are formally published twice per year in June and December.
The latest figures released this month show Mid Sussex is leading the way when it comes to sports participation in Sussex, with 41.3% of people taking part in sport at least once per week. This is a 1% increase since last year (40.2%), a 2.5% increase since the survey began in 2005/6 (38.9%) and way above the national average (35.5%). The data was collected from April 2014 to March 2015.
“Exercise can be incredibly powerful, helping you to feel great both physically and mentally, so it’s great that so many of our residents are regularly taking part in sporting activities,” said Councillor Pru Moore, Mid Sussex District Council Cabinet Member for Leisure and Sustainability.
Cllr Norman Webster, Cabinet Member for Health and Community adds: “Our Wellbeing team work with local people to increase sports participation right across Mid Sussex. They run low cost exercise classes to help people take the first steps to a healthier lifestyle, they visit community groups to provide older people with information on how to stay active for longer and they encourage people to try new sports by offering free taster sessions.
Cllr Pru Moore continues: “Providing local residents with opportunities to take part in sports and recreation is really important to us and we have some first-class leisure facilities in Mid Sussex. We have three excellent leisure centres, with one in each of our towns; we maintain local cricket grounds, community tennis courts and look after almost 70 football pitches for players of all ages. We also support local sports clubs through grant funding, allowing them to buy new equipment and improve their facilities.
“It’s obviously important to have accessible sports facilities nearby but it’s the enthusiasm of our residents that really bring them to life. A great deal of credit must go to all the people who are involved with local sports clubs, giving up their time to organise sporting activities for the whole community to enjoy.”
For more information on the Active People survey visit http://www.sportengland.org/research/who-plays-sport/
Active People Survey results 2013-2015
|
2013/2014 |
2014/2015 |
Difference |
|
|
England |
36.1% |
35.5% |
-0.5% |
|
South East |
37.6% |
36.9% |
-0.6% |
|
Sussex |
36.5% |
35.2% |
-1.3% |
|
East Sussex |
34.6% |
34.4% |
-0.2% |
|
Brighton & Hove |
39.7% |
35.4% |
-4.3% |
|
Eastbourne |
33.7% |
36.6% |
+2.9% |
|
Hastings |
33.7% |
30.8% |
-2.9% |
|
Lewes |
34.5% |
34.2% |
-0.3% |
|
Rother |
31.9% |
31.0% |
-0.9% |
|
Wealden |
37.5% |
37.2% |
-0.4% |
|
West Sussex |
36.6% |
35.7% |
-0.9% |
|
Adur |
34.0% |
31.4% |
-2.5% |
|
Arun |
31.6% |
32.3% |
+0.8% |
|
Chichester |
36.1% |
33.4% |
-2.8% |
|
Crawley |
35.8% |
37.2% |
+1.4% |
|
Horsham |
40.4% |
39.8% |
-0.6% |
|
Mid Sussex |
40.2% |
41.3% |
+1.0% |
|
Worthing |
37.6% |
31.7% |
-5.9% |
To qualify as participating in sport, survey respondents must exercise, at moderate intensity, for 30 minutes on at least four days out of the last four weeks (equivalent to 30 minutes on one or more day a week). Recreational walking or cycling does not count.
