New engagement factsheet on supporting low-income households released

Building Better Opportunities and Activity Alliance share common ground in supporting people whose lives are limited by poverty and social isolation. Together we can and do achieve more by encouraging activity and actively promoting inclusion.

Activity Alliance has released its latest engagement factsheet titled ‘Supporting disabled people from low-income households to be active’. It is the latest in a collection of resources that advise sport and leisure providers on inclusive practice. Learn how you can plan, target and deliver more appealing and accessible opportunities for disabled people.

This new factsheet provides insight on how deprivation affects some disabled people’s lives. It explores the relationship between poverty and disability. And, how both the causes and consequences of deprivation can impact a person’s desire, choice and opportunity to be active.

The factsheet covers the following topics:

• Poverty among disabled people
• Activity levels among low socioeconomic groups
• How low socioeconomic status impacts activity – factors that can influence disabled people
• Considerations for successful engagement and delivery
• Poverty is a complex problem that affects millions of people in the UK. Half of all people in poverty are either disabled themselves or live with a disabled person – that’s around 7 million people.

Ray Ashley, Activity Alliance’s Strategic Lead – Partnerships, said: “We want to empower organisations by providing the right support, connections and insight so that more disabled people have access to fair activity opportunities. Our latest factsheet is an important addition in supporting activity providers and organisations to encourage more disabled people to be active.

“Engaging disabled people from low-income households to take part in sport and physical activity can be challenging. It requires understanding and flexibility of approach. Our latest factsheet addresses this challenge. We look forward to working with sport and leisure providers to ensure their opportunities are welcoming and accessible for everyone.”

The factsheet was created in partnership with Professor Tess Kay, Professor of Sport, Health and Social Science at the University of Stirling.

“I am so pleased to see this important guidance emerging. Low income can have an enormous impact on people’s participation in sport and physical activity, but it is often overlooked. It is not just about being short of cash – there are so many associated effects, from stress and worry, to poor everyday living conditions. As this resource explains, disabled people can be at greater risk. This timely guidance has a wide relevance, especially at this uncertain time. I really applaud Activity Alliance for taking the lead on this crucial issue.”

The new factsheet Supporting disabled people from low-income households to be active complements the existing bank of engagement factsheets.

• Half of all people in poverty are either disabled themselves or live with a disabled person – that’s around 7 million people.
• Make time to get out into your community and ask inactive disabled people what would encourage them to move more. Tapping into personal motivations is key to changing behaviour.
• Be informed about how deprivation can affect some disabled people’s lives and the barriers it creates to being active. It is not just about having enough money. Personal safety, job security, previous experiences and mental wellbeing are also key.
• Disabled people report lower levels of overall wellbeing than non-disabled people.
• More than half (53%) of disabled people report that they feel lonely
• On average, disabled people face an extra £583 per month in costs. Inescapable costs include specialist goods and services.

ACCESS the Activity Alliance engagement factsheets