A Child’s Postcode can be a Stronger Predictor of their Health than their Genetic Code. Sport England has a plan to fix this.

Sport England has announced 27 new partnerships that will benefit from its place-based approach, which aims to reduce the postcode lottery by targeting areas of deprivation and low activity.

Affluence and activity levels are closely linked, with 34 per cent of inactive people in England living in the most deprived places, compared to 20 per cent in the least deprived. This postcode lottery for physical activity is contributing to health inequalities across the country, and paediatrician, health campaigner, and broadcaster Dr Guddi Singh says it even outweighs genetics.

“As a paediatrician, I see every day that a child’s postcode can be a stronger predictor of their health than their genetic code,” says Singh. “When local streets feel unsafe, there’s nowhere affordable to go, and young people don’t feel they belong, it shows up in their bodies and in their minds. If we care about the future of public health, we have to turn our thinking on its head: health isn’t built in hospitals, it’s built in homes, schools, streets and parks.”

Tackling inactivity is one of the most effective ways to boost national health and wealth, with Sport England research showing that every £1 spent on community sport and exercise generates £4.38 in benefits for the economy and society, including improved health, wellbeing, happiness, community cohesion, employment, and economic growth. Active lifestyles have been calculated to save the health system £8 billion a year.

Each of the 27 new places is in the top 20 per cent for inactivity, social need, deprivation and health inequality at a national level. Sport England will be partnering with Active Partnerships, local organisations and leaders who understand the specific needs of the communities and the local assets available to support people to play sport and get active.

Sport England’s director of place, Lisa Dodd-Mayne, says: “Inactive children living in lower income households are more likely to grow up into inactive adults with more health issues and less happiness, and that’s a ticking time bomb for our country’s future.

“By working together with communities who know what’s best for them, we co-create opportunities to get active that local people and children want and need in the place they live. This can help inspire lifelong active habits in children and young people. Active children and young people are more likely to become active adults.”

Sport England is investing £250 million of National Lottery and exchequer funding into 90 places across the country. Two key target groups are children and young people from low-income backgrounds and older adults at risk of long-term health conditions.

This community-based approach has been in use since 2018 and is seeing success. In Greater Manchester, changes in local systems have led to an increase in activity levels for children and young people, so they are now above the national average. In Doncaster, the number of active adults has risen from 53 per cent to 58 per cent since 2015 – an increase of almost 17,000 people.

The 27 new place partnerships are in Bassetlaw, Breckland, Cornwall, County Durham, Coventry, East Staffordshire, East Suffolk, Enfield, Halton, Hastings, Havant, Lambeth, Leeds, Luton, Medway, Newcastle upon Tyne, Newham, North Lincolnshire, Plymouth, Preston, Sheffield, Somerset, South Holland, Sunderland, Swale, Telford and Wrekin and Wakefield.

Physical activity and health strategic lead for Active Hastings, Cath Donovan, welcomed the £347,000 funding injection for the town, which has a population of 91,000, with around 25 per cent of the adults being inactive. It also has many active communities and local organisations which care about people’s wellbeing, and the investment will build on those strengths.

“Residents will be involved in shaping the work to make sure the support fits their needs. Children and young people will also have opportunities to share their views and influence decisions,” she said.