Sport England Local Delivery Pilot: Building an understanding of how we can increase physical activity in our target wards
Background
Sport England announced a new strategy in July 2016 to identify better ways to address the barriers that stop people getting active, such as poor transport, safety, knowledge, motivation and confidence. They committed to investing significant time, expertise and money (£130 million) in around 10 places across England to develop and deliver local pilot schemes that looked at increasing physical activity (not just sport) at a whole population level. This funding was to be invested in these places over four years to create innovative and experimental solutions to enable people to access physical activity.
The pilots seek to encourage wider, collaborative partnerships which look at how all parts of a community can work better together to help the most inactive. From transport links and street lighting, to the quality of parks and open spaces, to how physical activity is promoted by GPs. These partnerships will encompass organisations beyond the sport sector such as voluntary groups, social enterprises, primary care providers and commissioners, private sector businesses, faith organisations and housing associations. To achieve this, each pilot area must adopt a ‘whole systems approach’ to tackling physical inactivity that looks at policy, environment, community organisations, social groups and individuals.
Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council submitted a South Tees proposal on behalf of the partnership that came together to develop our plans. It was one of 12 supported nationally. Our proposal focuses on two key elements. The first element across the whole of South Tees outlines four specific “communities of interest”, hidden across the whole area and not geographically defined:
- People waiting for some types of surgery; we know that physical activity before surgery can improve their outcomes.
- People with or at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes; physical activity can reduce the risk or help ease the effects of the condition.
- People accessing commercial weight loss services, as these often look more at changing eating habits rather than increasing physical activity.
- Working with health professionals to change their behaviour and capacity to utilise physical activity as a clinical pathway.
The second element takes a whole community approach to increasing physical activity in four of the wards across the boundary of the two boroughs, Grangetown, South Bank, North Ormesby and Thorntree & Brambles. These wards were identified not only because of the significant levels of need and the stubborn health inequalities that prevail in these places, but also because of the assets, resilience and potential we believe is being unlocked within these communities.
Target Wards – Developing an Understanding of the Causes of Physical Inactivity
We need to work with local groups and residents to understand the real issues that matter to people and that affect their attitudes to physical activity. Therefore, initial work will involve in depth engagement with local organisations and communities to identify the causes and wider determinants of physical inactivity. This will then allow us to produce, with communities, plans that we can deliver over the lifetime of the programme.
We envisage providing funding for local organisations, working together, to support this research by bringing together different experiences and expertise. It will also be supported by Teesside University, who will use Intervention Mapping techniques to help guide the process.
We would like Expressions of Interest from partners, particularly those working within the target wards or across the target area, outlining how they feel they could contribute to this work in the target wards, either as a lead or a partner.
All we need in terms of an Expressions of Interest is contact details and 2-3 lines on the organisation and how you could be involved, although you can provide more if you wish. This should be emailed to Mark Fishpool:
by 5pm on Monday 23rd July 2018. We will plan a meeting for those expressing an interest to discuss the programme in greater depth between 3 and 5pm on Thursday 26th July at the Trinity Centre, North Ormesby. This will be an opportunity to find out more about becoming involved.