Sport England released the latest Active Lives Children and Young People Survey yesterday, revealing that while activity levels among children across England have reached their highest point since records began, London has seen no significant improvement compared to last year. The findings show the growing concern that too many young Londoners continue to not get the opportunities they need to build healthy and active lives.
You can see the findings here.
This year’s report shows that almost half of children in England (47%, 529,000 young people) now meet the Chief Medical Officer’s recommended 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day. However, significant inequalities remain across England in activity levels with:
- Boys (52%) more likely to be active than girls (46%).
- Children and young people of Black, Asian and other ethnicities are the least likely to be active.
- Those from the least affluent families are the least likely to be active (45%).
- Children and young people with a disability or long-term health condition are equally likely to be active as those without one.
- Activity levels are lowest for those in school Years 3-4 (ages 7-9, 42%).
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR LONDON?
London continues to lag behind, with activity levels in the capital showing no year-on-year change. This means that more than half of children and young people in London (53% – 594,600 young people) are still not reaching the recommended daily levels of physical activity, despite the clear evidence that active children experience better physical health, improved mental wellbeing and stronger educational outcomes.
The data shows considerable variation across the capital.
Brent (42.8%), Islington (34.8%), Enfield (34.6%), Greenwich (34.4%), Kensington and Chelsea (33.6%), Sutton (33.5%), Newham (32.9%), Tower Hamlets (32.8%), Bexley (32.4%), Hillingdon (30.9%), Waltham Forest (30.6%), and Kingston upon Thames (30.4%) have a higher number of ‘less active children’ and young people than the London (30.2%) and national averages (28.4%).
In contrast, boroughs including Wandsworth (56.6%), Bromley (52.2%), Merton (51.9%), Kingston upon Thames (50.4%) and Richmond upon Thames (50.4%), outperform both the London (47.1%) and national averages (49.1%) for ‘active children’ (crucially distinctive from ‘less active’).
Some boroughs have experienced substantial change within the past 12 months. Lambeth, the London Borough in which London Sport launched its ‘More Ball Games’ campaign, recorded a notable rise (+9.5%) in fairly active children, and Merton saw a meaningful reduction in those classed as less active (-4.0%).
At the same time, there are a number of boroughs that have seen significant decreases in active children alongside increases in inactivity, signalling pressures that cannot be ignored. These include:
- Brent: saw significant decrease (-9.7%) in active rates and a significant increase (+16.7%) in less active rates.
- Islington: a significant decrease (-11.0%) in active rates and a significant increase (+15.1%) in less active rates.
- Richmond upon Thames: a significant decrease (-11.8%) in active rates and a significant increase (+6.0%) in less active rates.
This year’s national findings also underscore the importance of physical literacy, the confidence, competence, motivation and enjoyment that underpin children’s long-term relationship with movement. The data shows that children with multiple positive attitudes towards being active are far more likely to meet daily activity guidelines.
Emily Robinson, London Sport CEO, said: “London Sport continues to prioritise the communities and young people facing the greatest barriers to being active. Through place-based approaches, work with schools and local authorities, and partnerships across health, education and the community sector, the organisation remains committed to reducing inequalities and improving access to safe, inclusive places for children to play, move and thrive.
This follows the recent announcement highlighting the £18 billion social value generated by sport and physical activity in London and the further investment now coming into the capital to help close the inequality gap.
As today’s findings make clear, progress in London will require sustained, coordinated effort across sectors. London Sport will continue to champion the importance of creating environments where all children and young people can build the confidence, skills and motivation to lead active, healthy lives, and to ensure the capital plays its part in driving national progress forward”.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
The Active Lives Children and Young People Survey provides insight on the sport and physical activity behaviours of children and young people aged 5-16 years old. The latest data (published 4th December) covers the last academic year (Sept 2024 – July 2025).
About Sport England
Sport England is a public body and invests up to £300 million National Lottery and government money each year in projects and programmes that help people get active and play sport. It wants everyone in England – regardless of postcode, background or bank balance – to have the opportunity to get active. Tackling inequalities is at the heart of its 10-year strategy Uniting the Movement, with work focused on helping people who do no, or very little, physical activity and groups who are typically less active – like women, disabled people and people on lower incomes.