Covid-19 has had a significant impact on the country and on the sport and physical activity sector. Activity rates are falling, de-conditioning rates and mental health issues are rising, some parts of the sector face economic uncertainty, and longstanding inequalities in participation rates are widening. The sector has shown remarkable flexibility and creativity to adapt to the changes, and during this period, Sport England have launched their new 10-year strategy (Uniting the Movement) with ‘recover and reinvent’ as one of the 5 ‘big issues’ and equality running throughout, representing a great opportunity to harness and maximise the impact of the sector.  

There is both a need and an opportunity for Active Partnerships to support local Covid recovery plans, strengthening relationships with wider partners and systems with a mutual interest in ‘creating the conditions for an active nation’. Taking place between the 15-26 March, the convention will explore a number of key themes connected to ‘building back better and fairer’, and will seek to understand the perspectives of key system partners, and debate the collaborative action that will generate sustainable and transformational change.  

 Comprising of a series of thought-provoking workshops with a great line-up of sector and non-sector speakers, the convention forms one part of our learning and improvement journey.