Uniting Communities Through Place: Sport England’s Place Expansion Strategy.

Creating active, healthy communities isn’t just about building facilities or running programmes — it’s about designing places where people want to move, play, and connect.

That’s the ambition behind Sport England’s Place Expansion strategy, a cornerstone of their Uniting the Movement vision, which is transforming communities across the country and tackling inactivity head-on.

The Why: Reducing Health Inequalities Through Place.

Health inequalities remain a significant challenge in the UK, with access to sport and physical activity often determined by where people live. The Place Expansion strategy focuses on these very communities, investing in local plans that create inclusive, accessible environments where physical activity is easier, safer, and more appealing.

By developing place-based plans, Sport England ensures that investment is targeted where it can have the greatest impact — opening doors to opportunities for those who need them most. From urban centres to rural towns, these strategies are designed to tackle barriers to activity, improve mental and physical wellbeing, and foster stronger, more connected communities.

The How: Strategic Plans Driving Real Change.

The success of Place Expansion relies on carefully crafted plans that bring together local authorities, community organisations, schools, and health partners. These plans aren’t just about new facilities — they outline how to make streets, parks, and leisure spaces more activity-friendly, how to engage underrepresented groups, and how to sustain long-term participation.

Through collaboration and insight-driven planning, these place-based strategies create tailored solutions that reflect the unique needs of each community, ensuring that resources are invested wisely and outcomes are maximised.

Investment, Expertise, and Impact.

Sport England’s Place Expansion strategy represents a significant national investment in the fight against inactivity. Behind the scenes, a tireless network of professionals — from planners and community coaches to public health specialists — work to design, implement, and monitor these plans, ensuring that every pound spent contributes to measurable improvements in community health and wellbeing.

The results speak for themselves. Communities involved in Place Expansion have seen increased participation, stronger engagement with local sport and activity programmes, and improved physical and mental well-being for residents. These successes demonstrate the effectiveness of place-based strategies in driving sustainable change.

Turning the Tide: The Need for Pace and Persistence.

While progress has been made, the challenge of inactivity is far from solved. To truly turn the tide, continued focus, collaboration, and investment are essential. The Place Expansion strategy shows that with the right planning, partnerships, and ambition, communities can become active, healthy, and thriving environments — but the work must continue at pace.

Why Sports 2026: Uniting Professionals to Inspire Change.

We are thrilled to welcome Lisa Dodd-Mayne from Sport England to the Why Sports 2026 Conference, where she will share the latest updates on the Place Expansion strategy, highlight progress and success stories, and explore the impact of strategic planning on health inequalities and community wellbeing.

Lisa’s keynote presentation will set the tone for the conference, uniting physical activity and healthcare professionals around the shared mission of creating a healthier, more active nation. Attendees will gain insights, practical examples, and inspiration for how place-based strategies can transform communities and support sustainable change.

By highlighting the progress, challenges, and successes of Place Expansion, this session underlines the central role of planning, partnership, and purpose-driven investment in tackling inactivity and improving the health of communities across England.