Volunteering
- Just under over in six (17%) respondents are currently volunteering in sport and physical activity, the highest figure observed across all waves.
- Current volunteers are significantly more likely to be male (22% vs 13%), aged 16-34 and 35-54 (26% vs 24% vs 6%), from higher socio-economic backgrounds (ABC1) (24% vs 11%), from an ethnic minority group (47% vs 14%) and to have children aged 15 or under in the household (31% vs 10%).
- The total rise in the number respondents currently volunteering in sport and physical activity was largely precipitated by a significant increase among 35-54 year olds (24% in Oct 24 vs 16% in Jul 24).
- Around one in three (32%) respondents say they are likely to volunteer to support sport and physical activity in the next 12 months.
- 16-34s are significantly more likely than 35-54s and 55+ (51% vs 37% vs 16%) to say they are likely to volunteer to support sport and physical activity, as are those from higher socio-economic backgrounds compared to lower (40% vs 24%) and respondents with children 15 or under in the household compared to those without (49% vs 23%).
- Just over two in five (41%) respondents who volunteer in sport do so through a coaching role, lower than Jul 24 (47%), and the lowest figure observed across the three tracked waves.
- Just under one in two (45%) of those who have stopped or paused their volunteering in the past 12 months were previously in a coaching role, higher than Jul 24 (38%), and the highest figure observed across the three tracked waves.
- Of those who are likely to volunteer to support sport and physical activity in the next 12 months, around two in five (43%) intend to undertake a coaching role.
Cost-of-living
- Two in five respondents (40%) say that the cost-of-living crisis has had a negative impact on their ability to be active, higher than Jul 24 (36%), but in line with Oct 23 (40%).
- This rise was precipitated by a significant increase in the number of 16–34-year-olds saying the cost-of-living crisis has had a negative impact on their ability to be active (45% in Oct 24 vs 36% in Jul 24)
- 16-34s and 35-54s are significantly more likely than those aged 55+ (45% vs 46% vs 32%) to agree that the cost-of-living crisis has had a negative impact on their ability to be active, as are women compared to men (44% vs 37%) and those with children aged 15 or under in the household compared to those without (48% vs 36%).
- Although almost half (48%) of respondents say the changes in the cost-of-living have not impacted their participation in sport and physical activity, one in three (33%) say they have been doing less sport and physical activity due to changes in the cost-of-living.
- Respondents living in the least deprived and mid-deprived areas are significantly more likely to say the changes in the cost of living have not impacted their participation in sport and physical activity compared to those from the most deprived areas (61% vs 54% and 45%).
- Respondents aged 16-34 and 35-54 are significantly more likely than those aged 55+ to say they’ve been doing less sport and physical activity due to changes in the cost-of-living (39% and 42% vs 22%), as are those with children aged 15 or under in the household compared to those without (45% vs 27%).
Sports club membership
- Just over one in six (17%) adults in Wales are currently a member of a sports club.
- Male respondents are significantly more likely than female respondents to currently be a member of a sports club (23% vs 12%).
- Respondents aged 16-34 and 35-54 are significantly more likely than those 55+ to currently be a member of a sports club (27% vs 17% vs 11%).
Respondents from higher socio-economic backgrounds (ABC1) are significantly more likely to be a member of a sports club than those from lower groups (C2DE) (23% vs 11%).
Ethnic minority respondents are significantly more likely than white respondents to currently be a member of a sports club (37% vs 15%).
Impact of menstrual cycles & periods
- Of respondents that have experienced a menstrual cycle, period, or associated symptoms in the past 12 months, nearly one in two (46%) say it had a negative impact on their ability to take part in sport and physical activity.
- Of respondents whose menstrual cycle, period, or associated symptom had a negative impact on their ability to take part in sport and physical activity, around one in three attribute this to severe or extreme pain (31%).
- Just over one in two respondents whose menstrual cycle, period, or associated symptom had a negative impact on their ability to take part in sport and physical activity used pain relief medication to stay active. Nearly one in two (46%) skipped physical activity sessions until they felt better.
