Active Insight partners with Moving Communities to track participation at public leisure facilities, providing data to monitor performance, sustainability, and social value. This helps local authorities, leisure providers, and policymakers support the recovery of public gyms and leisure centres.

Importance of Gyms and Leisure Centres

Sport England and the Government recognize the role of gyms and leisure centres in promoting physical activity. Moving Communities tracks participation and provides evidence to monitor the sector’s performance and social value.

National Leisure Recovery Fund

The platform measures the impact of the £100m National Leisure Recovery Fund from the Exchequer, administered via Sport England, to inform future investment decisions.

Further detail on the fund here:

Moving Communities Community Survey –

Survey Live Now!

What is it?

A standardized online survey for local authorities and leisure centre operators to engage with residents about their attitudes towards physical activity and active leisure.

Available free via the Moving Communities Platform.

Why should local authorities use it?

• Insight into Resident Opinions: Understand local views on physical activity and available opportunities.
• Identify Barriers: Discover barriers to activity and find ways to encourage it.
• User Characteristics: Compare users and non-users of public sport and leisure facilities.
• Perception Analysis: Identify perceptions of public sport and leisure facilities.
• National Insight: Provide insights to help Sport England and other organizations make strategic decisions.

In addition, by using this service Sport England and other sector organisations will benefit from insight into the barriers and perceptions on a national basis (England only), helping us to make strategic decisions and achieve the aims/objectives of Uniting the Movement.

What does the survey cover?

The questions in the standardised survey cover the following key areas;

• Current levels of physical activity
• Physical activity aspirations
• Indoor and outdoor physical activity
• Active travel
• Children and families

A full copy of the MC Community survey can be provided by completing the enquiry form at the bottom of this page.

Moving Communities Sample Report:

What are the different ways I can use this survey?

The survey can be used in two different ways.

Option 1: Freemium Service

Freemium Service Free Access: Local authorities can use the online survey and get basic results on the platform.

Option 2: Premium Service

• Premium Service Enhanced Service: For a fee, local authorities can receive:
• Weighted results based on current population estimates.
• Benchmarking against national benchmarks.
• Addition of up to 3 local questions.
• Enhanced support and guidance.

Weighting Model

Weighting Model Developed by Sheffield Hallam’s Sports Industry Research Centre, the model addresses bias in survey results by considering demographics like age, gender, and ethnicity.

Further details of the weighting/modelling technique to be used will be made available as part of the on-boarding process.

To find out more about this exciting new initiative, please complete the form below and a member of the Moving Communities team will be in touch to discuss further.