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Following the outcome of the general election, ukactive’s public affairs director Huw Edwards looks at the opportunities for the physical activity sector
By Huw Edwards | Published in Health Club Management 2017 issue 7
Wellness hubs could serve as the preventative frontline of the NHS / Photograph: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
As the nation rebounds from a shock election result straight into one of the most defining periods in our history – the Brexit negotiations – our sector faces significant challenges to keep physical activity high on the political agenda.
There was arguably a collective failure from the main political parties across the election campaign to recognise and discuss the importance of physical activity to the country. And yet, other big ticket issues – the ageing population and crisis in social care, the future of the NHS, childhood obesity, mental health, disconnected and isolated communities – all rightly received the oxygen of national debate.
WORTHWHILE CONVERSATION These are wide-ranging issues, but what links them is our sector’s potential to play a key role in each solution. There’s now a great opportunity for ukactive – with its members and partners – to position physical activity as the ‘golden thread’ that runs through the nation’s psyche, positively influencing national issues in a way that will retain the attention of decision makers, commentators and the public. This is the message ukactive is taking to government, offering our sector’s practical support in addressing some of Britain’s biggest societal challenges.
The obvious place to start is with young people. Today’s children are the least active ever, and we need a serious shake-up of the school day if we are to save Generation Inactive from a lifetime of ill-health. It’s not just a case of buying more bats and balls for the PE cupboard, we have to embrace creative solutions. That’s why we’re calling for a commitment to regular in-school measurement of children’s activity levels and the rollout of active mile schemes to ensure children are moving every day.
Giving our children an active start in life is essential, but how do we help maintain active lifestyles once they’re in the workplace? Sedentary office culture is wreaking havoc on workers’ health, so now is the time to adopt policies that boost the wellbeing of our workforce.
CYCLE TO WORK To this end, we’re lobbying the Treasury to expand the hugely successful cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme – estimated to have saved £5.1bn through health benefits accrued through participation – to encompass gym passes, fitness products and accessories.
Active schools and workplaces will bring huge physical and mental health benefits, but the societal impact of physical activity is often overlooked. By putting activity at the heart of community infrastructure, we can empower all sections of society to lead more active lifestyles.
We’re continuing to push the case for a £1bn regeneration scheme to transform ageing leisure centres into new community wellness hubs that can serve as the preventative frontline of the NHS.
This is a tumultuous political period, but we’re confident that building a more productive relationship between the government and our sector will greatly improve our economic and social prosperity. To build a healthier and wealthier nation, we must make physical activity the natural choice for all aspects of society.
Mandarin Oriental has announced a standalone residence brand, Mansions, which will debut at
Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions, Abu Dhabi, in 2029.
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day
(GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and shaped by four pillars of Joy – in
alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the 2026 event in
Phuket, Thailand, later this year with the theme: The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness.
Auko, an all-inclusive development, is opening in Phong Nha in Vietnam in Q3 2026, with a
series of 30 tented eco-lodges and wellness hospitality operations by Lumina Wellbeing.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, has opened a 2,800sq m spa called The Sanctuary,
with the design and concept inspired by the Native American people that populated Florida’s
Southwest coast – the Calusa.
Swire Hotels’ luxury hospitality brand Upper House has revealed it will roll out its two-day
House of Healing retreats at its three hotels in Hong Kong, Chengdu and Shanghai.
LVMH-owned beauty house Guerlain will launch up to five spas with partners a year as part of
its plan to expand globally, according to the brand’s international spa and wellness director,
Diane Davody.
A new global study by Kevin Kelly and Peter Yesawich, called WELLSurvey 2.0, has revealed
more than half of consumers in the UK, US and Germany would not choose numerous high-
profile wellness resort brands for a future trip.
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