Ken Masser / photo: moiva
I read your commentators’ analyses of the UK government physical activity strategy, Get Active, in the recent edition of HCM (issue 9 page 72).
It’s good to read a strategy that acknowledges the importance of local leadership, as there’s lots to be done around diversity, safeguarding, integrity and sustainability.
The key to unlocking that ambition is to recognise local leaders have the best understanding of where and what action is needed.
Facilities are an important part of the answer, but shouldn’t be the focus of the question and trying to fix problems ‘one facility at a time’ is focusing on the wrong solution, as ageing centres – while problematic – need to be viewed in the context of the challenge around stubborn inequalities in activity levels.
This approach accepts that the answer to every problem is not always to provide more money, but instead to focus on strategic leadership and local collaboration.
The more that can be joined-up, collaborated on and co-designed, the better. However, this isn’t all about co-locating services – although that can be part of it – it’s more about the nuanced interaction between facilities of all types, outdoor spaces, leaders and the workforce and the way people are welcomed and engaged.
The government strategy is a clear invitation for communities to come together and consider these elements holistically by establishing local plans for what’s needed in their area. This should help develop a pipeline for delivery and evidence to underpin funding requests across government.
We’ve enjoyed working with the Local Government Association and Sport England to support learning opportunities for local leaders to understand more about systems approaches and place-based working, as well as the practical application of those principles.
As the strategy says: “We’d encourage local leaders and local authorities to ensure there’s a clear and well-evidenced facilities plan for their local area. This should take into account informal spaces for participation, as well as the role the local leisure estate plays in contributing to physical activity and wider wellbeing.”
A broad principle that emerges in the new strategy is the idea that we need to embed physical activity along the whole lifecourse, at every age, in every community, and across all policy areas.
This will help ensure there’s joined-up local policymaking towards this outcome, improved local accountability and that local leaders and authorities are having positive impacts within their spheres of influence.
The strategy seems to summarise it well: “As we move forward, systemic change is now needed to ensure that public leisure is both relevant and viable in the coming years.”
A broad principle that
emerges is that we need
to embed physical activity
along the whole life course