Include to Improve programme impact

Include to Improve is a two-year programme led by Activity Alliance and Sport for Confidence, funded by Sport England. The programme aims to create more opportunities for disabled people to take part, volunteer and work in sports and activities. We work collaboratively with disabled people and a network of strategic partners to improve existing services and shape new inclusive solutions.

• Disabled people, or those with long-term health conditions, are twice as likely to be physically ‘inactive’ as non-disabled people (41 per cent compared to 21 per cent for non-disabled people).
• We estimate the ‘activity gap’ at a cost to society of £10.9 billion, i.e. this would be the additional value if activity levels of disabled people were the same as non-disabled people.
• Even with a ten per cent shift in disabled people’s activity levels to the activity levels of non-disabled people, the value to society would be approximately £1.1 billion. A 20 per cent shift would be approximately £2 billion.
• Data from Sport England’s Active Lives shows that 4 in 10 (40 per cent) disabled adults are inactive, constituting less than 30 minutes of activity a week. (Sport England, Active Lives 2022-23). We want to see this activity gap reduced.
• Adults with a disability or long-term health condition remain less likely to volunteer at all frequencies, when compared to those without. (SE Active Lives Survey 2022-23).
• People with a disability or long-term health condition account for 18 per cent of regular volunteers, despite comprising 20 per cent of the population as a whole. (SE Active Lives Survey 2022-23).
• Fewer workers within the sport and physical activity workforce report having a disability (13 per cent), compared to the average of all occupations (16 per cent). (CIMSPA, Workforce insights report, 2023).
• Disabled people who are unemployed are much more likely to be inactive than disabled people who are employed (46.7 per cent vs 27.4 per cent). (SE Active Lives Survey 2022-23).
• Only 22 per cent said they see ‘people like me’ working in sports and physical activity role (ADAS 2022-23).
• 2.6 million (38 per cent) more people in the working-age population classed as disabled compared to a decade ago. The employment rate of disabled people (53 per cent) is nearly 29 percentage points lower than that of non-disabled people, and this employment ‘gap’ has stopped narrowing over the last five years. (The employment of disabled people 2023 – DWP). 
• Disabled people are nearly 3 times more likely (than non-disabled people) to be economically inactive. (ONS, 2024).
• Disabled people are more likely to agree the increased cost of living has affected their activity levels (37 per cent vs 32 per cent) and how much they socialise (60 per cent versus 48 per cent) (ADAS, 2022-23).

The Include to Improve programme aims to change this by working collaboratively with disabled people and a network of strategic partners. We have set up two programme networks for disabled people and organisations and we are working with these groups to improve existing services and shape new inclusive solutions across the sector.

Through our Lived Experience Network of 125 people, we have provided a safe space for disabled people to share their views of taking part and working in the sport and physical activity sector. We listen and learn from these experiences and then work together to influence change and shape programme activities.

Our Strategic Partner Network is a collaborative group of over 85 members, for organisations from different sectors including national disability sports partners, the voluntary and community sector, leisure and health, wanting to strengthen their commitment to disabled people's inclusion.

Activity Alliance and Sport for Confidence are supporting network partners to create sustainable, inclusive solutions that empower and engage disabled people.

We have developed targeted support offers, in response to direct feedback from both Strategic Partner Network (SPN) and Lived Experience Network (LEN) members, that are designed to address key challenges identified – ranging from inclusive recruitment and workplace adjustments to organisational readiness and representation. Each initiative has been shaped by disabled people’s lived experiences, sector insight and programme evaluation activities, ensuring relevance, impact, and practical value. 

Organisations will gain access to expert guidance, collaborative learning opportunities, and tailored resources that support meaningful change. Together, we can reduce duplication, foster strategic partnerships, and amplify our collective impact. 

We are working closely with 15 organisations from across the sport and physical activity sector, including leisure providers, Active Partnerships and NGBs as well as charities and universities on the offers details below.

Peer Advocate support

We propose the introduction of peer advocate roles within the sport and physical activity sector. These roles will actively draw on the expertise and lived experience of disabled people to support inclusive practice, enhance organisational culture, and improve participant experiences. Peer advocates can help bridge gaps in understanding, foster greater representation, and contribute to both strategic development and day-to-day delivery.

HR Consulting - We are launching a targeted support programme provided by BASE (British Association of Supported Employment), combining tailored consultancy, collaborative learning, and resource development. 

• strengthen organisational readiness through expert HR consultancy focused on inclusive recruitment, Access to Work, workplace adjustments, and inclusive policy development
• facilitate action learning sets that address real-world challenges and promote peer-to-peer learning.
• develop sector-wide resources informed by the programme’s insights, enabling broader impact and knowledge sharing across the SPN network.

End to end recruitment 

We are offering SPN members the opportunity to take part in a comprehensive recruitment audit delivered by industry experts, Inclusive Employers. This audit will help organisations identify strengths, uncover challenges, and pinpoint opportunities to improve their recruitment practices. Insights from these audits will be used to develop practical resources and guidance, enabling other organisations across the sector to make meaningful improvements in their own recruitment processes.

Occupational therapy led support

Embed occupational therapy in a pilot led by CIMSPA and the DWP, that aims to create opportunities for job seekers (with a focus on young people) to gain training and employment in the sports and physical activity sector

Online hub

We’re developing a centralised online hub that brings together trusted, actionable guidance in one accessible place. All content is co-created with people who have lived experience and is tailored to the real needs of the sector. This hub will help organisations build confidence, align with best practice, and explore areas of inclusion that may not yet be on their radar.

Production of resources, training and learning across the programme partnerships – working together, reducing duplication, and encouraging strategic partnerships, we aim to amplify the collective impact across the network. These will be hosted on the Activity Alliance website as part of the website redevelopment for the sector to access as part of the Online Hub support offer. 

Lived Experience Network legacy 

The Include to Improve LEN will become part of the wider organisational LEN on conclusion of the programme. We have worked closely with Activity Alliance’s Research Team and Finance to establish a Guidelines and Renumeration Policy for those sharing their lived experience to ensure consistency across our work. 

Strengthening existing and developing new relationships across the sector such as between Activity Alliance and Sport for Confidence. We will use this as an opportunity to work more closely as two organisations, moving beyond this programme. 

Our delivery concept is built on the improvement of organisations pathways for disabled people as employees, volunteers and participants. Practices of which will remain beyond programme investment with host organisations.

It is essential to spend the time establishing ways of working with a delivery partner when taking joint ownership of a programme, agreeing roles and responsibilities, identifying areas of knowledge and expertise and understanding everyone’s communication needs. 

Be led by lived experience ensuring there are multiple communication methods in place for people to share this such as phone, email, Zoom focus groups and online discussion forums. This allows for true co-production and meaningful impact.  

All members of our networks completed an initial survey as part of the sign-up process around removing barriers and challenges to disabled people participating, volunteering and working in the sport and physical activity sector. Three key themes were drawn from the research - Making Recruitment Accessible, Workplace Adjustments and Attitudes and Stigma which has informed our programme direction to date. 

Further focus groups on the above themes with our LEN were conducted and attendees were passionate about being active and highlighted how involvement in the sports sector supports both their physical and mental wellbeing.

• treating everyone the same isn’t fair – some people need things done differently
• seeing images and role models of disabled people in sport is powerful
• it’s wrong to assume disabled people don’t work — LEN activities should not be limited to daytime hours only
• being a minority in an able-bodied environment can have negative impacts (e.g. self worth, confidence)
• volunteering is often a vital route into employment
• “See the ability” – focus on what people can do
• take a person centered approach.

Emma McKenna, Strategic Lead – Include to Improve, [email protected]

Links to relevant documents: 

Activity Alliance | Programmes | Include to Improve