A resilient sport, leisure and physical activity sector is essential to healthy, happy and well-functioning communities. It supports health and wellbeing, strengthens community cohesion, provides positive opportunities for children and young people, and helps address wider social challenges such as loneliness, isolation and anti-social behaviour.

This is why we must ensure Lincolnshire’s physical activity sector can thrive and remain resilient in the face of external pressures, including economic uncertainty and devolution. Protecting and nurturing this sector is vital.

Lottery funding via Sport England is enabling us to strengthen the organisations, people and partnerships that make physical activity possible across Lincolnshire. The key focus areas for this work are:

• Physical activity sector network development
• Physical activity, sport and leisure sector workforce and skills
• Sector welfare and safeguarding
• Capital facilities and infrastructure
• Tackling inequalities

All our work is underpinned by a focus on tackling inequalities and understanding local need.

The challenge

Lincolnshire has many physical activity providers, coaches, groups and organisations, but they often operate independently and have limited time or capacity to connect. Despite this, many face similar challenges and have valuable examples of good practice, learning and innovation to share.

The cost of living, changes to National Insurance and minimum wage requirements, rising operating costs, and wider social and economic pressures are all affecting organisations’ ability to deliver sustainable opportunities for communities.

Recruiting and retaining a skilled workforce also remains a significant challenge, with organisations reporting difficulties in attracting both paid staff and volunteers to support a sustainable workforce for the future.

What we did

In spring 2025, we launched the Your Active Voice Survey. We engaged with more than 50 networks and gathered feedback from 96 organisations. This listening exercise strengthened relationships across the sector and improved our understanding of the challenges and opportunities organisations face.

The feedback informed the establishment of the Lincolnshire Sport and Physical Activity Network (LSPAN), which aims to strengthen collaboration across 13 organisations in the sector. The network provides a valuable platform for shared learning, collaboration and the dissemination of best practice.

In autumn 2025, we hosted Connect Lunches in Skegness, Boston and Spalding to bring sector partners together, raise the profile of the Plan for Neighbourhoods programmes, and share information and opportunities with local organisations.

The sessions were attended by people from across leisure, health, sport and physical activity, charities, National Governing Bodies, local authorities and education.

We also expanded workforce development opportunities through the Active Skills Hub digital platform creating safeguarding training and targeted learning programmes.

What changed

Partners now have greater opportunities to collaborate, share learning and align activity around common priorities. Workforce confidence and capability have increased through training and development, while the Active Skills Hub provides a central platform for jobs, training, events and career opportunities.

The National Governing Body network now meets regularly to discuss shared opportunities. In response to the areas where clubs and activity providers asked for support, several webinars and shared learning sessions have also been made available free of charge.

Why it matters

A stronger, better-connected sector is better equipped to provide safe, inclusive and sustainable opportunities for people to be active.

Improved coordination helps ensure that resources are used effectively and that organisations can respond collectively to local needs, particularly where communities face the greatest inequalities.

Find out more

Find out more about our support for those working in sport and physical activity across Lincolnshire here.