The Sport and Recreation Alliance, alongside the 26 members from its Movement and Dance division, and a consortium of academic professionals specialising in research on movement and dance, have published a report articulating its overlooked social value.
Movement, dance and exercise are understood to have significant benefits for physical and mental wellbeing, and many clubs serve as pillars of their community, but is often overlooked as a form of physical activity. Perhaps because movement and dance straddles the arts and sport sectors, it does not get the funding, attention or support it deserves, when looking at its contribution to national strategic objectives for sport and recreation.

Headline findings from the report include:

• The annual social value of movement and dance is £3.49 billion, representing around 5% of the total social value generated by community sport and physical activity.
  • Of every £20 of social value created by sport and physical activity, £1 is created uniquely by movement and dance.
• Movement and dance creates £430 million in savings on physical and mental health.
• Prevents more cases of breast cancer and hip fractures than its ‘market share’.
• A host of other benefits – delayed onset of Parkinson’s disease, reduced loneliness, and improved retention in activity of young people, older people, and people living with disabilities.

The development of this report has been driven by Tracy Levy, former Chair of the Alliance's Movement and Dance Division. During the course of the project, Tracy Levy stepped down as Chair of the Movement and Dance Division having reached her maximum term limit. Annette Hufton stepped into this role and, working in partnership with Tracy, has been instrumental in continuing to drive this project forward.