High economic activity and low unemployment mark the South East as one of the highest performing regions globally. Yet the region has the largest number of excluded or deprived people of any region in the UK.

Targets to reduce social exclusion in the region include ensuring that everyone can engage in cultural activity.

Participation in cultural and sports activity is generally high in the South East. But people on low incomes are much less likely to engage in cultural activity than higher earners. Adults with a disability are 20% less likely to engage in sport and 10% less likely to engage in other cultural activities than the regional average. Participation tends to be lowest in areas most affected by multiple deprivation.

The South East Social Inclusion Statement is currently in draft. It makes the case for social inclusion to be at the centre of decision-making in the region.

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