Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the availability of professional trainers and coaches provided by voluntary organisations and sports clubs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sport England has been working closely with its strategic partners, the Chartered Institute of the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), UK Active, Community Leisure UK and the national governing body for group exercise EMD UK to make it easier for personal trainers and group exercise instructors to provide physical activity for people in their community and beyond. This has included work to assist personal trainers to make sure they have adequate insurance cover and guidance to promote remote activity sessions safely.

Government recognises the impact that covid-19 is having on the sport sector, and we are continuing to engage with sporting organisations to understand how it is affecting them and to provide support.

At the present time, although all elite and grassroots sport has been suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak, the government recognises the importance of staying physically active for mental and physical health. There has been much innovative thinking across the sport and physical activity sector on how to keep people active whilst social distancing restrictions are in place.

Daily exercise is one of the reasons that people are allowed outdoors and campaigns such as Sport England's 'Join the movement ' campaign, under the hashtag #stayinworkout, provides the advice and tools needed to help people to stay as physically fit as possible. Its online hub offers free exercise content and advice from organisations such as the NHS. Workouts from fitness brands and influencers such as Les Mills on Demand, The Body Coach (Joe Wicks) and FiiT are also available via the hub, many of whom are offering extended free trials to help people get active at home.