Public leisure centres helping to tackle inequalities

Public leisure centres are helping people from the most deprived communities to get active.

Sport England's latest Moving Communities report shows an increase in people from areas classified as IMD 1-2 using public leisure facilities, compared to the 2023-24 figures.

The report highlights that residents of IMD 1–2 areas accounted for 16% of all visits in 2024-25, with an average of 2,189 users per site.

There's also been an increase in the percentage of women using public leisure centres, as well as in the number of facilities being rated Very Good or Excellent in assessments, and an estimated social value of £3.63 billion from the centres reporting on Moving Communities.

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