\n<\/p>\n
Football – with the men’s World Cup currently giving it unrivalled prominence – is often held up as a mass participation sport because it is so cheap to play.<\/p>\n
However, the well-versed ball and jumpers for goalposts claims may ignore the cost to families of kit, club fees and transport to matches.<\/p>\n
Tennis has faced a more complex reputation, with some considering it to have been an elitist sport.<\/p>\n
But anyone wanting to try tennis, without the costs of hiring a court or any of the equipment, can attend free sessions – often on Saturday mornings – as part of a Lawn Tennis Association scheme.<\/p>\n
Anyone can search for a park near you running the sessions, external<\/span><\/a>, although not every area of the UK is covered.<\/p>\n Beyond tennis, there are a host of leisure centres which offer free fitness class taster sessions, external<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n Cricket is another high-profile summer sport. The Chance to Shine charity runs hundreds of free street cricket sessions, external<\/span><\/a> around the country throughout the year – often within walking distance of children living in poorer areas.<\/p>\n British Blind Sport runs Have a Go days, external<\/span><\/a> for people with sight loss to try out sports ranging from rugby to rowing for free.<\/p>\n Parkrun has become a hugely popular free running and walking, external<\/span><\/a> activity across the UK.<\/p>\n There is no centralised database for free sports activities, but lots of campaigns are designed to get people moving to help their physical and mental health.<\/p>\n They include Every Body Moves, external<\/span><\/a> for people with disabilities, regional schemes such as London Sport Get Active, external<\/span><\/a>, and the This Girl Can, external<\/span><\/a> campaign.<\/p>\n Sport England also invests in the Active Partnerships network, external<\/span><\/a>, which boosts free sporting and exercise activities in different areas.<\/p>\n On a local level, charity-run possibilities range from free table tennis sessions in Brighton, external<\/span><\/a> to street dance in Blackpool, external<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n