Spotlight on Lower Socio-Economic Groups

Around 12 million people – nearly a third of the adult population in England – fall within our broad definition of lower socio-economic groups.

This large group of people is not limited to those facing greater economic disadvantage. It also includes people and families who sometimes, or often, struggle to make ends meet. It could feature people employed in 'semi-routine' jobs, like shop assistants, hairdressers and bus drivers; or people in 'routine' jobs, like waiters, cleaners and building labourers.

Although a diverse group, our Active Lives Adult Survey reveals people in lower socio-economic groups are more likely to be inactive. There isn't a single reason for this, but this report explores the interaction between being in a lower socio-economic group and other characteristics – disability, ethnicity and age – and the statistics that lie behind them.

This report also examines how we might influence the way audiences within this target population engage in sport and physical activity. For those who deliver sport and physical activity opportunities, this inevitably requires consideration of how best to meet audience needs.