A Parliamentary Committee Chaired by Dame Caroline Dinenage, Member of Parliament for Gosport, has called on the Government to do more to get people active.

A commitment to a broader PE curriculum in schools that encourages participation in non-traditional sports like cheerleading; ending the 3pm Saturday blackout for women’s football; and the removal of unnecessary ‘No Ball Games’ signs are among the recommendations in the Culture, Media, and Sport Committee’s “Game On” report.

Calling for a decisive national commitment to stable funding, better facilities and a cross-government strategy to deliver a healthier nation, the Committee argues that investing in sport delivers social and economic benefits that will lead to significant savings in the health and welfare budgets.

With the UK lagging behind the average of other European countries, the report recommends that the Government increases the 0.3% share of total government expenditure on sport and recreation to at least 0.6% over the next ten years.

Schools should be required and supported to deliver a more inclusive PE curriculum that prioritises enjoyment, comfort and a welcoming environment for all pupils, the Committee also says.

Witnesses to the inquiry emphasised the importance of activities that attracted pupils who might not engage with mainstream team sports, with SportCheer England highlighting how cheerleading was “unique in capturing and retaining participation from girls and young women at an age when they are traditionally dropping out of sport”.

The report also stresses the role of social prescribing in connecting people with activities and communities that support physical and mental well-being. It recommends that sport and physical activity should be integrated more firmly into preventative health policy with activities such as bowls and walking sports signposted by social prescribing.

Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, said: “We’re a country of sport lovers when it comes to supporting our stars at home and abroad, but there are too many barriers stopping people from getting up and giving it a go themselves at school and clubs in our communities. We need a national shift in the way we think about sport and a commitment at all levels to deliver a healthy and more active nation.

“Cheerleading is a prime example of an activity that can engage young people, particularly teenage girls, who might have previously thought sport was for others. Teams like Jessie Leigh Dance and Cheer and Storm Athletics in Gosport are proving how successful non-traditional sports can be in driving participation.”