Annual Disability and Activity Survey: Progress Made but More to Do

The Activity Alliance published the findings from its latest Annual Disability and Activity Survey 2025/26 in June, revealing encouraging signs of progress in sport and physical activity opportunities for disabled people. While the results demonstrate improvements across the sector, they also highlight the continued need for action to truly create inclusive, accessible, and equitable opportunities for everyone.

More than 1,000 disabled and 1,000 non-disabled people participated in the survey and among disabled respondents, 52% now feel they have opportunities to be active, representing a significant increase of nine percentage points since 2023. Despite this progress however, the figure remains considerably lower than that of non-disabled respondents, where 74% feel they have opportunities to be active. Disabled people are actually more likely to want to increase their physical activity levels than their non-disabled counterparts (67% compared with 54%), reinforcing a crucial message: the challenge is not a lack of motivation, but the barriers that continue to limit participation.

One example highlighted in the report is the "Activity Trap". Around 43% of disabled people worry that becoming more active could put their disability-related benefits at risk, yet six in ten rely on those benefits to enable them to be active in the first place. Combined with ongoing cost-of-living pressures and impairment-related challenges, cited by 66% of disabled respondents, this creates a significant obstacle to participation.

Nevertheless, the report identifies four key priorities for improving engagement in sport and physical activity among disabled people:

• Embedding inclusive practice
• Providing affordable and flexible opportunities
• Creating a culture of belonging
• Ensuring disabled people have genuine choice

A clear example of this work is improving the accessibility of facilities used for sport and physical activity. Busy gym environments, bright lighting, and inaccessible layouts can all present barriers to participation. Through No Limits 2026, facility audit training is being delivered to help leisure operators identify and address accessibility challenges within their venues. Most recently, colleagues from Everyone Active have completed the training, and it is hoped that many more providers will engage with the programme throughout 2026 and beyond.

Similarly, the importance of increasing staff confidence and awareness when supporting disabled participants was highlighted and while 79% of disabled respondents felt activity leaders could meet their needs, this compares to 88% among non-disabled respondents, suggesting that further development and training opportunities are needed across the sector. Respondents specifically identified gaps in the knowledge and confidence of fitness instructors, underlining the value of Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership's Disability and Inclusion Learning Series. In July, the "Supporting Gym Users with Physical Disabilities" workshop, delivered in partnership with the Matt Hampson Foundation, was particularly well received and demonstrated the Partnership's commitment to developing inclusive practice.

Furthermore, comments made from the report also underlined the importance of representation. Participants reported that seeing people like themselves participating and working within the sector made sport and physical activity feel more realistic, welcoming, and achievable. However, only 32% of disabled respondents could see themselves working in sport and physical activity, compared with 52% of non-disabled participants. The No Limits 2026 Ambassador Programme looks to dispel this myth by showcasing the lived experiences of disabled people working and volunteering across the sector. Ambassadors such as Richard Hill MBE, Ella Beaumont and Nikki Evans continue to inspire others by demonstrating that careers in sport and physical activity are both attainable and rewarding for disabled people.

There is no single model for delivering accessible and inclusive physical activity opportunities. However, all clubs, organisations and providers have a responsibility to ensure they are doing everything possible to remove barriers and create welcoming environments for disabled people. The Annual Disability and Activity Survey clearly shows that the desire to be active exists; it is the barriers to participation that still need to be addressed. Across Hertfordshire, significant progress continues to be made in improving inclusion within sport and physical activity. However, the survey serves as a timely reminder that maintaining this momentum remains essential if we are to create a sector where everyone has the opportunity to be active, participate, and thrive.