I went to the Sport England Parliament drop-in and learnt more about the results of the Active Lives Children and Young People survey 2022-23 and what it meant.
Sport England is an arm's length body of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport with the responsibility in England to transform people's lives by getting them active and playing sport.
One of the most surprising things I learnt was the fact that in England, 51% of children with a disability or long-term health condition are more active than 48% of children with no disability or long-term health condition. I believe all children, regardless of disability should be more active.
I'm glad to see that in my own constituency football clubs such as Wealdstone FC host football sessions for children with disabilities and without. I want to encourage and push forward all youth sports teams to do the same. But for that to happen more financial support is preferred, so I will be in continued discussions with our Culture Minister, who already is improving sport for young people across the UK immensely.
For example, Culture Minister, Lucy Frazer, put a lot of extra funding into women's football, which in the survey noted that since the Lionesses won Euro 2022, 68,000 more girls are playing football, which is a 4% increase since 2017-18.
There are also 1 million more children and young people walking, cycling, or scootering to get places than there were 5 years ago. That's totalling up to an 11.5% increase.
I know, as well as Sport England knows, that children who are active are healthier, happier and more confident and resilient. That's why I make a large effort to support youth games in my constituency.
I anticipate to ask Sport England to come and visit some of the great youth clubs we have in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, and I will update you all when that is confirmed.