Within the plan are a number of measures relating to children and young people, and the physical activity sector more broadly, including:

1. The plan highlights the value of physically activity for both physical and mental health, worth an estimated £10.5 billion in savings a year. To address inactivity levels including inequalities, the plan proposes cross-system join-up, stating that in areas where physical activity is designed with local people, inactivity rates fall by 2.5 percentage points more than in areas using different approaches.

2. Reflecting this, the Government is moving to a place based approach to physical activity including by investing £250 million into 100 places through Sport England, alongside £400 million into local community sport facilities, new School Sports Partnerships and though local health plans. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is expected to set out more detail on the strategy for delivering and increasing physical activity in due course.

3. The Government looks set to build on pilots which have tested the use of incentives to drive behavioural change. For example, a pilot in Wolverhampton which rewarded participants with vouchers for making healthy choices, saw improvements in both diets and physical activity levels. This approach will be reflected in a new digital NHS points scheme, where people will be rewarded for taking positive actions to improve their health.

4. Modelled on the UK’s City of Culture programme, the Government will name the UK’s most physically active community each year. This will showcase exercise, sport and active transport initiatives in that community, with ambitions to support participation, spread best practice and encourage investment. In addition, Sir Brendan Foster will assemble a group of expert partners to motivate millions to walk (and where possible, run) on a regular basis.

5. The new National Youth Strategy – set to be published this summer – will provide more information about how the Government plans to support young people in life, including support for mental health, wellbeing and the ability to develop positive social connections. Additional support for children’s health will be provided through expanded mental health support teams in schools and colleges, as well as included within Young Futures Hubs.

6. The Government will restrict junk food advertising at children, ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s, and give local authorities stronger powers to block new fast-food outlets near schools. School food standards will be updated to ensure students can access healthy, nutritious food.

7. The Government will work with Active Travel England and local authorities to identify changes to substantially boost active travel rates, and to bolster physical activity levels. Earlier this week, 12 regional mayors in England signed up to a new plan to create a national active travel network focusing on helping children walk, cycle or scoot to school safely.

Whilst much of the 10 Year Health Plan summarised above builds on existing announcements, it is positive to see that the Department for Health and Social Care recognises the challenges children and young people face, and the importance of physical activity to younger generations and across society more broadly. We hope the proposals put forward can help improve activity levels over the next decade so more children can access the many associated benefits, including for their health and wellbeing.