Modest increases in the the number of islanders meeting recommended physical activity level have prompted an admission from the assistant minister with responsibility for sport that more needs to be done.
Constable Andy Jehan said he was “under no illusions” about the scale of the task as he introduced a “half-time report” for Inspiring an Active Jersey, a ten-year project launched in 2020.
Increasing the number of Islanders who meet the World Health Organisation’s recommended physical activity levels is listed as a priority for the next five years. At the time of the launch, 51% of adults and 20% of children achieved this, with the latest figures from 2024 showing slight increases to 55% and 22% respectively, and a 2023 update referencing an ambition to realise a 10% increase by the end of the ten-year term.
The report acknowledges that the Covid-19 pandemic had a significant impact, with global economic factors rendering some of the original ambitions, including an investment of £100 million for a range of new facilities, no longer feasible.
A switch to a smaller-scale redevelopment programme includes secured funding for the Oakfield Sports Centre, new lighting and pitch at Springfield Stadium and a new skate park.
A list of “ageing infrastructure” requiring replacement or refurbishment includes Haute Vallée pool, the pitch at Le Rocquier, Les Quennevais Sports Centre and Pool, Langford Pool, FB Fields and the Aquasplash. Such projects would need to be finalised and funded in the 2028-2031 Budget should Jersey be selected to host the Island Games in 2035 following a recent expression of interest, the report notes.
The importance of the role played by volunteers in sport is recognised, with figures showing that the proportion of Islanders volunteering had been 10% in 2019 and bounced back to 11% in 2024 after falling during the pandemic.
Government employees are given 22 hours of paid volunteering time per year, with Jersey Sport seeking to direct more of this time towards sport.
The report also notes that while around two-thirds (68%) of adults rated the range of sporting activities and events in Jersey as good or very good, there had been a steady decline since 2019.
In a bid to reverse this trend, the government has committed to develop a framework of events and to work in maximising the potential for Jersey to develop as a sports tourism destination.
“Our sports community has shown great resilience and remains in a strong position, in spite of challenges such as COVID-19 which occurred in the early stages of the strategy,” he said.
“We continue to support sport and physical activity through the completion of Oakfield Sports Centre, a significant milestone for Jersey, and by making best use of all our public assets – I am confident that we are on the right track.”