As we step into 2026, Sportily is looking forward in hopeful anticipation and looking back to celebrate all that was good in the previous year.
Sportily is creating a network of fun-loving sport and activity groups, where all children, young people, and their families can try different sports, make new friends and encounter the Christian faith with others. Sportily is part of the Diocesan LIFE Together vision and is committed to working alongside other worshipping communities and partners in living out this bold vision of transformation.
Training young sports leaders
Through the Sportily Play Leaders Scheme, year 6 students are being trained and mentored to lead playground games for the younger pupils in their schools.
“I love being able to put what we learn in play leaders into practise at the afterschool club,” said one participant.
At the other end of the age spectrum, six Sports Coach Apprentices have joined the Sportily team in 2025, bringing energy and creativity, whilst learning how to deliver high-quality sports coaching and invite people to explore the Christian faith.
In 2025 twelve people earned accredited sports awards with Sportily – a fantastic achievement that reflects growing impact.
Climbing to new heights
Sportily’s mobile climbing wall was out 24 times this year with 1,800 people aged 7-75 ascending its 10m rock face.
Co-CEO Richard Witham said, “It was wonderful to see children begin a session with a vocalised fear of heights, joyfully celebrating how high they climbed by the end.”
Sportily also added ArcheryTag to its repertoire of unusual sporting activities this year.
Inspiring everyone to try Pilates
From baby and toddler Pilates, to all-age Pilates, prayerful Pilates and intergenerational outdoor Pilates, Sportily has run almost 250 hours of Pilates this year.
Zone Leader Tim said, “Parent and baby Pilates is a real joy as Abbie creates such an inclusive environment at all her sessions.”
Opening the first Sportily sports centre
Innsworth Hall had been closed for 5 years when Sportily was awarded the lease. Following a complete renovation and fitting out a brand-new dance studio space, the building is once again at the heart of the community.
“Since Sportily took on the lease, it has transformed Innsworth Hall into a vibrant hub for local residents by connecting people and considerably strengthening local ties. It has been extremely diverse in its offering by welcoming people of all ages, backgrounds, and cultures, and has encouraged participation and cohesion through sport,” Francesca Jackson; Community and Place Development Officer (South), Tewkesbury Borough Council.
Encountering God within community
Whilst getting active and moving more, Sportily has been encountering God together in community.
Chris reflected, “Poignant and memorable moments have included; times of remembrance with young people sharing about lost loved ones, times spend in darkness as we’ve considered the light of Christ; playing worship games at Sweaty Church; time spent in reflection gathered around a fire pit; and meeting people to share joy and light amidst Halloween.”
Talking life and faith together
Talking life together is something the Sportily community always prioritises. Richard said, “There have been countless moments this year where deep, important and searching conversations have taken place. Sometimes this orientates around a ‘question of the week’ or a ‘talk life theme’ or a ‘wellbeing topic’. Through these we’ve laughed, questioned, cared and explored together on so many levels, building relationships as we connect.”
Groups of young people have also completed the Alpha course in an ‘active-Alpha’ style.
Tim recently ran the last of his Youth Alpha sessions and said: “It was the last Alpha session in the series tonight. What a joy and a blessing to journey with these young people through the past 13 weeks. Some awesome conversations, good challenges and encouragements. They all asked ‘What’s next?’. It’s great to know the journey doesn’t stop there.”
Spending time on residentials
This year Sportily took year 5s and 6s away for their first trips away from home to the Tom Roberts Adventure Centre; the team ran the summer youth residential – exploring the theme ‘Faith over Fear’; and led residential trips for both mainstream and SEND schools.
Richard continued, “It’s always brilliant to see young people enjoying boating, caving, karting, climbing, orienteering, archery and sports outdoors in God’s creation.”
Playing sports, making friends, having fun, moving more and finding joy
Across Gloucestershire young and old have jumped, bounced, zumba’d, thrown, climbed, shared, thrown, eaten, lifted, run, explored, laughed, burpee’d and found fullness of life through Sportily sessions.
Ydson shared how Sportily loves unusual sports, saying, “Great first session giving Tchoukball a go. From pronouncing it to playing it. It was evident that the young people understood the game when they started trying some trick shots on the net and committing to the dive for a wicked catch. When asked for a rating out of 5, Ffion graciously gave 1000, Tate a solid 5 and Leo a strong 10!”
The Forest of Dean wellbeing champions group said they had absolutely loved their day at the Christian Adventure Centre in Viney Hill. On the minibus home, one boy said enthusiastically, “That was so much the best day of my life!”
A netball participant shared: “Thank you so much. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and it’s been so lovely to socialise and meet a new group of lovely people, so thank you! It has been what I’ve looked forward to in the week”.
Serving and joining in
Chris went on “Sportily has hosted Duke of Edinburgh volunteers, work experience students and been blessed by a brilliant team of volunteers. Seeing them all lead games, grow in confidence, learn new skills, share with children and laugh whilst running around chasing after balls is just fantastic.”
82 people were part of Team Sportily this year, contributing almost 2,000 volunteering hours.
“A lady who we’ve never seen before walked in and heard the worship music playing and saw the prayer board and said, ‘I think this must be a sign from God, I’ve been looking for a Christian community to link in with. Do you need any volunteers?”
Growing breadth, depth and impact
2025 was a wonderful year of growth, with 4,700 sessions run and 75,000 participations in activities across our network.
86% of participation moments are by those aged under 18 and 49% are by females.
Importantly more than 8 in 10 people said that Sportily helps them enjoy getting active and feel part of a group, with 1 in 3 wanting to know more about God as a result of joining in.
Looking forward
Join Sportily in praying for even more wonderful moments throughout 2026.
If you’d like to stand with them in prayer this year and hear about the moments as they happen, you can sign up for the Sportily newsletter here
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Dear Richard, Dear Sportily team,
I am really thrilled to read about the work that Sportily is doing here, bringing sport and the Christian faith to children and young people. It is so wondeful!
I was wondering whether I could talk with you at some time for some thoughts and advice. I am a lecturer and researcher in the School of Management, University of Bath. In the last few years, after doing an Alpha course, I have found my faith, and it has changed my life! I now attend a Church of England church in Bristol.
In the last year or so, I have been working with a Social Enterprise, run by a Christian, to develop ideas for a project around the social and spiritual benefits of Church attendance. We were amazed to read about your project as part of the national NSWP project…
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2025/31-january/news/uk/sports-ministry-could-bring-people-to-church-synod-to-hear
We see some parallels with the project that we are trying to set up. We were wondering whether we could talk to you at some time for some ideas and advice?
Best wishes,
Richard.