Moving communities report urges government to back gyms and leisure centres ahead of autumn budget

"A major new report from Sport England and 4Global has strengthened calls for the Government to increase support for gyms, swimming pools and public leisure centres in the forthcoming Autumn Budget, warning that the sector is delivering billions in social value despite operating under severe financial pressure. The annual Moving Communities report highlights the critical role these facilities play in improving national health and wellbeing, with public leisure centres contributing an estimated £3.63 billion in social value between April 2024 and March 2025."

"According to the report, no other part of the sport, recreation and physical activity sector delivers impact on this scale. Participation in gym activities rose 13% year on year, with notable increases among women, under-16s, over-65s, and people living in England's most deprived communities. Women now make up 53% of all users, and gym activity among female participants increased 12%."

"These trends point to a sector helping to narrow some of England's most persistent health inequalities. For many families, leisure centres remain the only accessible and affordable spaces for exercise, community activities and supervised swimming. But ukactive said today's findings also expose a troubling reality: many of these vital facilities are operating with fragile finances. Rising energy bills, higher staffing costs and ageing buildings have left half of all facilities running at break-even, placing services at risk just as demand accelerates."

Public leisure centres contributed an estimated £3.63 billion in social value between April 2024 and March 2025, reflecting personal wellbeing gains and savings to public services, particularly the NHS. Participation in gym activities rose 13% year-on-year, with increases among women (now 53% of users), under-16s (+21%), over-65s (+19%) and people in the most deprived communities (+7%). Leisure centres often provide the only accessible, affordable spaces for exercise, community activities and supervised swimming for many families. Rising energy bills, higher staffing costs and ageing buildings have left half of facilities running at break-even, risking services as demand accelerates.

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