As the Paralympics begin, new research reveals ‘shocking neglect’ of disabled people’s health in the UK.
- According to the charity Sense, four in five people with complex disabilities are at increased risk of illness due to lack of exercise
- In a poll of more than thousand disabled people, nearly half said they would like to be more active, but are prevented due to societal barriers, such as inaccessible venues and a lack of trained staff
- Former Olympian turned leading sport and exercise scientist, Professor Greg Whyte OBE, condemns “mass disability neglect at a time we are focused on elite disability sport”
As the Paralympic Games begin in Paris, experts have said the health and well-being of disabled people in the UK are being “shockingly neglected”, in response to findings, published today, by the national disability charity, Sense.
A poll* of more than a thousand adults with complex disabilities** in the UK, reveals four in five (81 per cent) do less than 150 minutes of physical activity a week, with more than a third (36 per cent) getting less than 30 minutes.
The NHS recommends that adults aged 19 to 64 get at least 150 minutes of physical activity a week to help maintain physical and mental health, with those doing less than 30 minutes classed as ‘inactive’.
The results mean around 1.3 million people*** with complex disabilities in the UK are not active enough to be healthy.
Nearly half (46 per cent) of those quizzed said they wanted to be more active to boost their physical and mental wellbeing but were prevented from doing so due to societal barriers. Inaccessible venues and transportation, as well as a lack of skilled staff to support disabled people, were highlighted as significant barriers by nearly a third of respondents. More than a quarter (26 per cent) highlighted the lack of information on inclusive sport opportunities
Greg Whyte, former Olympian and Professor of Applied Sport and Exercise Science at Liverpool John Moore’s University, has condemned the findings, stating that disabled people’s health is being “shockingly neglected”.
Professor Whyte pointed out being physically active, at a level that best suits each person’s individual needs and abilities, improves people’s physical, mental, emotional and social health – and can help reduce pressure on the NHS and social care as a result. He has called for change.
Greg Whyte, Professor of Applied Sport and Exercise Science at Liverpool John Moore’s University, said:
“The health of people with complex disabilities is being shockingly neglected. It’s indefensible that four out of five are not active enough to be healthy and the barriers stopping them, like inaccessible exercise venues or a lack of trained coaching staff, are completely unacceptable.
“What we are seeing is quite simply mass disability neglect at a time we are focused on elite disability sport. As we’re gearing up for the Paralympics, it would appear that authorities are pretending to care without a strategy to ensure that sport is truly for all.
“Simple changes, like training staff, fitting ramps or improving transport, could have a profoundly positive effect on disabled people’s physical health and resistance to illnesses like heart disease, cancer, diabetes and stroke. There are huge mental, emotional and social health benefits too, leading to improved quality of life.
“And by reducing pressure and costs to the NHS and social care, the whole of society will benefit.”
Alissa Ayling, Head of Sense Active, the charity’s sport and physical activity programme, said:
“Sense wants everyone to have the chance to be active in a way that’s meaningful for them and we see on a daily basis how much that can boost people’s physical and mental wellbeing.
“That so many people are getting less exercise than they need to be healthy is incredibly disappointing, but sadly not surprising. There’s a lot of work to be done to ensure being active really is for everyone.
“Disabled people experience many barriers to exercising, from inaccessible sports venues and transport to a lack of an upskilled workforce and closures of local facilities. But if there’s enough determination to break down the barriers, it will happen.”
The Sense Active programme, funded by a £2.2 million grant from Sport England, will support 5,000 more people with complex disabilities to be active by the end of 2027.
Sense has redesigned traditional sports, including badminton, tennis and football, so people with complex disabilities can meaningfully participate in them for the first time and is training 1,000 coaches to help make physical activity accessible to all.
Case study – ‘When you have Down’s syndrome, it’s hard to find somewhere to exercise’
Daisy Copp has mastered standing and kneeling on a surfboard and loves wowing her family with her skills.
Daisy, 29, from Barnstaple in North Devon has Down’s syndrome and psoriatic arthritis, a condition that causes joint pain and stiffness, and needs lots of encouragement and specialist support to get active.
Daisy Copp surfing (Credit Ben Birchall / Sense)
Luckily, funding from Sense means she can take part in adaptive surfing lessons, that are delivered by trained instructors and volunteers at The Wave Project and give each disabled surfer the individualised support they need to ride the waves.
Daisy’s mum, Jenny Copp, 59, a primary school supply teacher, says: “Daisy doesn’t have a lot of stamina but when she wants to give up on her surfing lesson, her instructors get her to play in the waves then get her back on the board for another ten minutes.
“After about five sessions last summer, they got her to stand on the board. Daisy loves it when people see pictures of her surfing and say, ‘Wow, we can’t do that!’”
Daisy lives with her mum and dad, Tim Copp, 64, a retired maintenance engineering manager. Before they moved from Surrey to North Devon two years ago and found surfing in 2023, the family struggled to find accessible ways for Daisy to exercise.
Jenny says: “When you have Down’s syndrome, it’s very hard to find somewhere to exercise.
“Daisy was very into dance when we were in Surrey, but we couldn’t find a dance company that didn’t do exams and she couldn’t reach that level. She can swim well but might want to swim across the pool and not do what she’s supposed to do in a group session.
“Surfing exercises Daisy’s upper body and lower body which is great. Afterwards, she’s tired but she’s happy and I think it’s really good for her mental health too.”
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