Across Scotland and the UK, community gyms, group fitness classes, and leisure facilities are quietly doing some of the most important work in our health system.

They are where people rebuild confidence after illness.

Where mental health is supported without waiting lists.

Where friendships form, isolation reduces, and healthier habits begin.

 

This is preventative healthcare in action.

 

And yet — these services are taxed the same as retail and hospitality.

 

At a time when the NHS is under increasing pressure, and governments are calling for a shift toward prevention, this policy simply doesn’t align with reality.

 

We know that:

 • Physical activity reduces the risk of chronic illness

 • Group exercise improves mental wellbeing and social connection

 • Prevention is significantly more cost-effective than treatment

 

So why are the very services delivering these outcomes being treated as non-essential?

 

Removing VAT from community-led health and fitness services would:

 • Make access more affordable for the people who need it most

 • Strengthen local facilities at the heart of our communities

 • Support national public health goals

 • Demonstrate a genuine commitment to preventative care

 

This isn’t about business advantage — it’s about public health.

 

It’s time to recognise fitness and leisure facilities for what they truly are:

A frontline defence in keeping our communities well.