The merger between London Sport and Interactive, announced at the beginning of April, is a significant moment in London Sport’s vision of making London the most physically active city in the world.
Too many disabled people are living inactive lives with the negative outcomes that result. In physical activity and sport in London only 19.3 per cent of disabled adult Londoners regularly take part, compared to 38 per cent of the adult population as a whole.
A more targeted approach to engaging disabled people in physical activity is required to ensure that this population gains all the physical, mental and social benefits that accrue from regular activity. For London Sport to achieve our target, it is imperative that engaging ‘low participation’ groups into active lifestyles is a fundamental part of our strategic efforts. For the wider sector, attracting disabled people to activity is not only the right thing to do but it also makes good business sense - as studies have shown that disabled people are largely keen to do more but remain an under-served population.
Interactive has demonstrated a capacity for supporting the development of equality in physical activity and sport for disabled people in London. As a recognised part of London’s sport sector, the team have delivered extensive activities which have helped change perceptions within the sector and encouraged more disabled people to participate.
By 2020, we want to have helped get 1m Londoners more physically active. It is imperative that those efforts are targeted with disabled people in mind, just as much as non-disabled participants.