Sport England cash awarded to the Black Country for football, gardening and more
The Black Country has been awarded sports cash to combat a lack of physical activity in communities leading to poor health.
Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Lottery-funded Sports England has found that more than a third of adults living in the most deprived areas are not getting enough physical activity. Research carried out by the public body warned of a "postcode lottery" as its findings showed 34 per cent of less affluent adults fell within the category, compared with only 20 per cent from the least deprived areas.
Wolverhampton, Dudley, Walsall and Sandwell are among 53 areas struggling to provide enough opportunities for physical activity and will be benefitting from funding from the body, which is pumping £250 million over the next five years into projects to encourage people to take part in activities and play sport.
According to the report women, residents from lower socio-economic groups, black and Asian people still remain less likely to be active than other adults, while less than half of children currently meet the Chief Medical Officer's guidelines for daily physical activity.
Sport England chairman and Olympic gold medal cyclist Chris Boardman said health inequalities had "become embedded in our communities" and that rising levels of inactive children were "a ticking time bomb for the long-term health and wealth of the country" which must be addressed urgently.
A report published last year found active lifestyles save the health and care system £10.5 billion a year by relieving pressure on the NHS, preventing chronic illnesses and saving money through reduced use of health services such as mental health support.
The body will now partner with organisations operating in the Black Country boroughs who understand what facilities are available to support more residents to play sport and get active in their respective communities.
It has been running trial projects under its "place-based approach" for seven years by identifying the major barriers to activity that each borough or area faces and working to dismantle them.
Examples include using football, gardening and walking to integrate refugees into communities, influencing housing plans in Exeter and providing gentle dance classes for older people to help them rehabilitate after a fall.
Outgoing Sport England chief executive Tim Hollingsworth said: "It is unacceptable that for many children and adults, their postcode, background and income dictate how active and healthy they can be - even affecting how long they might live.
"Inequality in activity levels damage health and undermine growth; we want to end the postcode lottery for physical activity.
"Uniting the movement's mission is to make sure we all have the opportunity to lead an active life, which is essential for the growth agenda too. Sport and physical activity are not just good for health; they are acts of economic contribution."
A £2,000 grant from Table Tennis England helped to kick start Cheslyn Hay's Bat & Chat popular group for the over 60s which was launched six years ago. The group now attracts up to 40 players a week.
