Grey-thompson Appointed Ukactive Chair

Crossbench peer Tanni Grey-Thompson has been announced as the new independent chair of not-for-profit health body ukactive.

In her new role, Baroness Grey-Thompson will now turn her seasoned campaigning voice to the issue of physical inactivity over the coming years, ensuring that the next government takes action on the inactivity crisis.

Within the announcement Baroness Grey-Thompson, one of the most successful British athletes of all time, set out a five-point plan to drive ukactive’s campaign to future government policy:

• For the government to have created a long-term, cross-department strategy for the establishment of physical activity best practice across all public bodies
• For the existing work of the physical activity sector to be recognised by government as a key driver of health and wellbeing for the nation
• For the prioritisation of skills and a ‘wellbeing workforce’ to be recognised and actioned by the relevant government departments
• For physical activity to be a top-tier priority for Public Health England, and for preventative health, led by activity policy, to be a key priority for the Department of Health
• For local authorities and schools to have individual physical activity plans spanning the areas of active travel, leisure provision, active aging and to be supported by central government in the development of these strategies but also to be held to account by government

The appointment marks the end of the tenure of Fred Turok who announced his intent to step down from the position at the conclusion of a 12 month consultation, reviewing the governance structure of ukactive with its membership and partners.

Commenting on her appointment, Baroness Grey-Thompson commented: “With the formation of a new government shortly upon us, there has never been a better time to shout the message of more people, more active, more often loud and clear. I look forward to working with Steve and the ukactive team to make the greatest possible impact on the health of the nation in partnership with the thousands of ukactive members, partners and stakeholders spread the length and breadth of the UK.

“For too long, physical activity has been – in the government’s eyes – the poor cousin of sport and overshadowed by obesity. The work of ukactive up until this point has thrown into stark relief the fact that inactivity is a killer, and inaction on this issue is no longer an option.

What we have set out today will provide the base for the next five years of campaigning, lobbying and encouraging government and its executives to ensure that we turn good rhetoric into real action in order to turn the tide of inactivity and get every part of our society moving again.”

Outgoing ukactive CEO David Stalker added: “We are delighted to have secured Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson to lead our organisation to further success in the years ahead. She is a campaigner to her core and there is no one better to firmly establish turning the tide of physical inactivity as a top tier public health issue.

“I know that she will bring her relentless energy that has driven all of her accomplishments to date to bear in pursuit of ukactive’s famous mission of achieving more people, more active, more often.”