Page 26 - Autumn 2019

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26 “All too often it can feel like the
barriers to getting active grow as
we age. However, even small
changes make a real difference.
“That’s why we are invest-
ing £10 million of National Lot-
tery funding into over 20
projects, like 10 Today, that sup-
port innovative and experimen-
tal approaches to support older
people to get and stay active in
a way that’s convenient, acces-
sible and fun for them."
Physical activity sector urged to embrace digital
Physical activity sector urged to embrace digital
Call for sport and physical activity sector to embrace digital
Call for sport and physical activity sector to embrace digital
revolution - We commit another £1.5 million of National Lottery
revolution - We commit another £1.5 million of National Lottery
funding to helping providers innovate using open data
funding to helping providers innovate using open data
Leaders in the sport and physical activity sector have called upon colleagues to embrace tech-
nology to make it easier for people to get active. A ComRes survey has found that people find
it twice as easy to order takeaway food online than to book a sport or fitness class. That's why
we're awarding a further £1.5 million of National Lottery funding to the Open Data Institute (ODI)
to help the sector innovate, open their data and develop their digital offering.
Our Chief Executive, Tim Hollingsworth, is urging sport and physical activity providers to
commit to opening their data – in the same way transport providers have done, leading to apps
such as CityMapper – by the end of the year. “There is a significant prize to be won here if the
sport and physical activity sector
seizes the opportunity to em-
brace digital innovation and
open up their data,” he said.
Tipping point moment

The ODI, an independent, non-
profit organisation founded in
2012 by Sir Tim Berners-Lee
and Sir Nigel Shadbolt, offers
training, research and strategic
advice for organisations looking
to explore the possibilities of
data.
In November 2016 they launched OpenActive, which has now seen 27 organisations – in-
cluding Greenwich Leisure Limited, British Cycling and Our Parks – publish their data, resulting
in more than 170,000 physical activity sessions a month being made available online.
With consumers increasingly using online services as a regular part of their life, opening
data will give people greater access to sport online in a way that best fits their lives. “This is a
real tipping point moment,” added Tim. “Now is the time for the whole sector to collaborate to
reach millions more people, remove the barriers they face and supercharge the number of peo-
ple getting active in England for the health of our nation.”
The £1.5 million will help the ODI to continue their work in the sport and physical activity
sector, which has seen OpenActive data used by 10 startups that we mentored and are working
on innovative tech solutions to help people get active. We're calling on members of the sport
and physical activity sector to open their data by the end of the year,