Physical activity can help address inequalities
November marked National Care Leavers’ Month – a time to celebrate care leavers and raise awareness of the challenges faced by children and young people in care.
In 2024, there were 83,630 children and young people in care in England, and 50,670 care leavers.
Care-experienced children and young people are among the most vulnerable groups in our society and face significant social and health inequalities, including poorer educational outcomes, higher rates of poor mental health and increased risk of homelessness and unemployment.
However, physical activity is a powerful tool to address these issues. Evidence shows that being active can reduce anxiety and depression, improve mood and boost cognitive function and academic performance. Yet, despite these benefits, care-experienced young people remain a ‘hidden group’ in physical activity policy and provision, and their needs are often overlooked.
The LGA’s new guidance, launched this autumn at our annual culture, tourism and sport conference and co-developed with care-experienced young people, sets out practical steps for councillors, local authority officers, and partners to use their corporate parenting responsibilities to create opportunities for care-experienced children and young people to be active.
The guidance is built on four principles: trauma-informed practice, choice, bodily movement, and physical literacy. These principles ensure that activities are safe, inclusive, and empowering.
At an LGA webinar held during National Care Leavers’ month, we heard inspiring stories that illustrate the transformative power of movement.
Ed, a care-experienced consultant, shared how encouragement from foster carers and social workers helped him pursue his passion for diving, leading to competitive success. His message was clear: “Support care-experienced children and young people by being present, encourage their interest and access to physical activity.”
We heard how local authorities like Plymouth City Council are already leading the way by passing a motion to recognise care experience as a protected characteristic. This has enabled the council to offer free swim and gym access to care leavers up to age 25, with the option to bring a friend.
The council now has a care leavers’ champion who is working with care-experienced young people to increase uptake, co-design a bespoke fitness programme, and broker partnerships with private gyms to expand the offer further.
“It was the football thing that got to me the most, because I would come to do a game, I would see everyone’s parents there, everyone’s siblings there, and I had to just stand there on my own. At the end of the game, when everyone is walking out, I would walk out on my own.”
Care-experienced young person, age 18-25
Finally, we heard from innovative projects like those run by the charity Care to Dance, led by qualified social workers and dancers.
It uses trauma-informed approaches to turn physical activity into a source of healing and connection. By creating safe spaces and understanding individual barriers, it helps young people build confidence and social networks.
Similarly, the charity Stormbreak CIO delivers evidence-based therapeutic movement programmes for foster carers, kinship carers, special guardians and adoptive parents, strengthening relationships and resilience within families.
Movement is more than exercise – it’s a pathway to belonging, confidence, and future opportunities.
As councillors, you can champion this agenda by embedding physical activity into corporate parenting plans and working with partners to remove barriers – ensuring care-experienced young people have the same chances to thrive as their peers.
- ‘Guidance on improving opportunities for physical activity for care-experienced children and young people’ is available for free on the LGA’s website.