Local sport maps – small area
estimates of participation
Within local authority boundaries are groups
of people with differing socio-demographic characteristics which
will impact on sports participation. Therefore within many local
authorities there are smaller areas with varying participation
rates.
The smallest geography which the Active People Survey
can accurately measure participation in sport and active recreation
is at local authority level. Below this geography, the number of
responses is too small to produce reliable figures. One solution to
this is the production of “synthetic” estimates at smaller
geographies (e.g.super output area level).
In recognition of this variation in
participation, Sport England commissioned Ipsos MORI to undertake a
modelling exercise to provide small area estimates of
participation. This work updates the small area estimates which
were produced from Active People Survey 1 data (Oct 2005-Oct 2006).
The data has been presented in map form, creating a 'local sport
map' for each local authority (see below).
MSOA participation estimates are based on
modelled or ‘synthetic’ estimates of participation. Synthetic or
modelled estimates combine survey data from Active People with
other data sources that are available at the area level (for
example, health indicators, socioeconomic status etc) and through a
three stage statistical modelling process, provide small area
estimates of participation.
Medium Super Output areas (MSOA’s) are a
geography for the collection of small area statistics. MSOA’s have
a minimum population of 5,000; and a mean population of 7,200.
Modelled estimates of participation are based
on data from Sport England’s Active People Survey 3 (Oct 2008-Oct
2009) and Active People Survey 4 (October 2009-October 2010).
In many instances the small area estimates of
participation will act as a confirmation of local knowledge - the
benefit of the small area estimates is that they provide a stronger
evidence base for prioritisation within a local authority.
Local sport maps: interactive web tool (launched May
2012)
This interactive web tool enables users to access the
small area participation estimates and generate local sport
maps showing participation at the middle level super output
area (MSOA). Maps can be generated at any geographic level and
facility data can be overlaid.
Click here to access the
tool.
Download local sport maps
Data is available in static map format. Please
note the maps are listed in alphabetical order, by local authority
name. Maps are available for each local authority and for two
different definitions of participation – sport and active
recreation (formerly NI8) and a more focussed indicator of sport,
‘3x30 sport’ (which does not include recreational walking and
cycling)..
Click here to view the local sport maps.
Other resources
The small area estimate data can be viewed in
spreadsheet format, where you can filter the data by local
authority. Before viewing the data please read
the 'Notes' tab. View data.
A technical
report providing detail on how the small area modelling was
performed is available.
Mini sport profiles are also available for each local
authority. These contain the small area estimate maps, alongside
other local data, including adult obesity maps, and the health
costs of inactivity.