The latest Moving Communities Impact Report from Sport England is out today (16 August) and includes two full years of operational data about public sector sport and physical activity from April 2022 to March 2024.

Sheffield Hallam University, Right Directions, Active Insight and 4Global deliver the report on behalf of Sport England. Moving Communities started in 2021 as part of the government’s £100 million National Leisure Recovery Fund. Today’s report reflects the largest sample size to date, with 563 public leisure sites across England supplying data on a regular basis.

The largest increase in the number of participants by type was found in fitness-related activities which were up by 20 per cent.

The average number of participants using these facilities increased by 7 per cent during the time period surveyed and there are a growing number of users from the most deprived areas of the country – up by 9 per cent.

This is despite 52 per cent of users living in the most income-deprived areas reporting that the rise in living costs has had a negative impact on their ability to stay active and compares with 35 per cent of respondents living in the most affluent areas.

The gender split was 52 per cent female and 48 per cent male. The biggest cohort using the facilities are one- to 15-year-olds (32 per cent) reflecting the contribution of swimming lessons. Participation falls steadily among people from their mid-forties onwards.

When it comes to frequency, 96 per cent of respondents said they intend to exercise at least once a week at their leisure centre over the next six months.

Because of the rise in participation, the total social value increased by almost £50 million between 2022/23 and 2023/4 to £890.6 million, an average of £119.38 per person. The total health savings were calculated at £146.3 million.

More than 50 per cent of sites completing a Quest assessment achieved a very good overall score in their assessment, but only 11 per cent attained the excellent score, which is lower than before the pandemic.

The Net Promoter Score, which is used to measure customer satisfaction stands at 22 for the second year running, showing a significant downgrading from 35 in October 2021.

Friendly, helpful staff and cleanliness were the two most important factors regarding a visit to a leisure facility – both at 99 per cent. Value for money has increased in importance from 82 per cent in 2022 to 98 per cent in 2023.

There has been a large increase in recruitment activity since COVID with job postings increasing by 1,550 per cent from January 2021 to January 2023. Frontline occupations are commanding the highest salaries.

4Global's Jack Shakespeare will be talking to HCM in an upcoming issue about the findings. Sign up here for a complimentary digital subscription.