Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Offering Free Leisure Centre Memberships to Physically Inactive Members of the Public Receiving State Benefits: A Case Study

Finance is often a barrier to participation. This study investigates the cost-effectiveness of providing free leisure centre membership to inactive and moderately inactive individuals who receive state benefits, over a four month period.

The report highlights limitations including a 16 % compliance rate, with only one third of this completing the follow up questionnaire, making it difficult to assess the programme's influence in changing engagement in physical activity. Despite this, the mental health gain of physical activity and consequent improvement in quality of life, suggests that if the programme is able to initiate an increase in physical activity lasting more than one year, it would be cost effective.