Britain is facing a national public health crisis, and sport can help solve it. One in six deaths in the UK are attributed to physical inactivity, at a cost of £7.4 billion a year to public services.
Physical activity is one of the most cost-effective interventions available, and the evidence on its impact on mental health, healthy ageing, childhood obesity and chronic disease is overwhelming. Beyond physical health, sport reduces isolation, can divert people away from crime, and build the confidence and practical skills that support people into employment. That's why Merton is on a mission to become London's first Borough of Sport.
