Active People Survey 2 (Dec 08)

The number of adults in England who regularly play sport has risen by more than half a million over the past two years, according to new research published by Sport England.

More than 6.8 million people aged 16 and over are now taking part in sport at least three times a week, for a minimum of 30 minutes, at moderate intensity. This figure contributes to a total of 11.73 million people choosing to participate in physical activity.

It also provides the baseline for Sport England to measure their target of getting one million people playing more sport - as part of the Government's drive to get two million people more active by 2012.

The Active People Survey provides by far the largest sample size ever established for a sport and recreation survey and will allow levels of detailed analysis previously unavailable. It identifies how participation varies from place to place and between different groups in the population.

The survey also measures; the proportion of the adult population that volunteer in sport on a weekly basis, club membership, involvement in organised sport/competition, receipt of tuition or coaching, and overall satisfaction with levels of sporting provision in the local community.

191,000 people were interviewed for the survey, which was commissioned by Sport England following the success of the first Active People Survey, two years ago. The large sample size enables Sport England to identify how participation varies from place to place, between sports and between different groups in the population.

Active People Survey 3 (2008/9) commenced on 15 October 2008 and will run for 12 months until mid October 2009.

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Improving health and work: changing lives - Government’s Response to Dame Carol Black’s review of the health of Britain’s working-age population (Nov 08)

Written by the Secretaries of State of the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health, the response to Dame Carol Black’s Review of the health of the working-age population has brought together departments across Government to develop a concerted response. The essence of the paper underpins the ethic that ‘a healthy workforce is a happier, more productive workforce’.

In fact, it is stated that the response is not the end of the process, striving to create a society where positive links between work and health are recognised by all, where everyone aspires to a healthy and fulfilling working life, and where health conditions and disabilities are not a bar to enjoying the benefits of work.

For the full report and response, visit www.workingforhealth.gov.uk