Survey reveals striking attitudes to sport

There has been a wealth of sport on the TV this weekend with the Wimbledon Finals, World Cup quarter finals and the British Grand Prix, but for many of us it’s as close as we come to taking any form of exercise.

In a YouGov survey commissioned by The Salvation Army, 77 per cent of respondents in the South West of England said they watch sport on the TV, but 47 per cent admitted that they exercise less than once a week, and 28 per cent said that they never do any exercise or sports at all. Nevertheless, a whopping 84 per cent of adults in the South West who took part in the anonymous poll thought that taking part in sport is important.

The Salvation Army, which recently celebrated 149 years since it was founded by General William Booth, believes sport is a powerful tool in helping people recover from addiction problems and homelessness. That’s a sentiment agreed by our respondents with 81 per cent seeing the benefit of regular sport and exercise for vulnerable people.

The Salvation Army believes that sport is a powerful tool in helping people recover from addiction problems and homelessness. That’s a sentiment agreed by our respondents 82 per cent in the region saw the benefit of regular sport and exercise for vulnerable people.

The Church and charity has a number of programmes to get people involved in sport, including our Partnership Trophy, a football tournament for homeless men and women, summer camps, weekly football matches, hill walking, badminton, tennis and many more.

Major Ian Harris, Divisional Leader for the South-Western division of The Salvation Army, said: “Sport doesn’t just keep people healthy, it tackles stress and helps build people’s confidence, as well as helping in the treatment of people who have addiction issues. It also helps build communities. Sport is a perfect tool for helping give people a hand up rather than a hand up which is the way we aim to support people. The government recommends that people exercise at the very least a couple of times a week – this is because of the benefits to our mental health and physical health. But sadly, the majority of us don’t do enough exercise.”

Daniel England, 38, took a football team up to Birmingham for The Partnership Trophy from Logos House Lifehouse in Bristol, a centre for homeless people, where they met a former England footballer. The team went on to win the tournament after Daniel organised weekly football matches for current and former residents of the Lifehouse. Peter Shilton, former England goalie, presented the trophies and even gave a penalty shoot out master class at the event. Daniel was homeless and addicted to drugs for several years before he was taken in as a resident at Logos House himself. He’s now been clean for six years, and after leaving Logos House volunteered at the centre, setting up the weekly football matches.

He later became the centre’s receptionist and now works for Logos House as an early intervention worker. About last year’s Partnership Trophy, he said: “The guys loved meeting Peter Shilton. Some of the guys said to me it was an amazing day which was great. It was a brilliant day. I just want to help the lads to get back on their feet and realise they can live fulfilling lives.”