The Challenge

As well as being a great source of enjoyment, sport and physical activity has proven benefits to physical and mental well-being, educational attainment, social cohesion and economic development (sport for social good). However, 25% of the population aged 16+ do less than 30 minutes a week and only 17.5% of young people meet the recommended guidlines for daily exercise and several demographic groups have activity levels well below the national average (further reading). The sector, (collaborating with relevant systems), has been challenged to be much bolder in harnessing the potential of physical activity and sport for social good and making a meaningful impact on improving people’s lives.

Our Vision

An active lifestyle is the social norm for everyone

Our Mission

To increase levels of engagement in sport and physical activity, reducing levels of inactivity, tackling stubborn inequalities and using the power of sport and physical activity to transform lives.

What are Active Partnerships

There are 43 Active Partnerships across England who work collaboratively with local partners to create the conditions for an active nation using the power of sport and physical activity to transform lives.

 Active Partnerships are strategic organisations that recognise activity levels are affected by a complex system of influences and no single organisation or programme create sustainable change at scale. So by adopting a collaborative whole system approach, Active Partnerships seek to make active lifestyles the social norm for everyone and address the worrying levels of inactivity in society.

They do this by creating an in-depth understanding of the needs of the local community, brokering cross sector partnerships, supporting the development of a welcoming and inclusive workforce, engaging communities and share learning of what works locally.

In particular, Active Partnerships focus their efforts on inactive people and under represented groups who will benefit the most from an active lifestyle.

A unique feature of the Active Partnerships is their independence, working across all sports, activities, providers and audiences, focused on the needs of their local communities.

 What We Do

Insight and Influence:

Have an in-depth understanding of local people, systems and places to guide investment, influence policy and affect change.  

Strategic Enabling:

Connecting and collaborating with local and national partners and systems to position sport and physical activity as part of the soluntion. 

Workforce Development:

Support organisations to develop a customer focused skilled and diverse workforce. 

Awareness and Advocacy:

Raise the profile and championing the benefits of community sport and physical activity to achieve social outcomes.

Co-ordinate delivery:

 Commission and/ or co-ordinate the delivery of customer led interventions to build activity into everyday life.

Learn and impact:

Share learning of what works locally to get people active and evaluating the impact that an active lifestyle can have on a range of social outcomes.

Video

 Watch our video to learn more about our work

Scope

Sport and physical activity means all forms of physical activity undertaken through casual or organised participation or competition. A unique feature of the Active Partnerships is their independence, working across all sports, activities, providers and audiences, focused on the needs of their local communities.

Our Values

All our work is underpinned by the following values:

  • Collaborative – We are outcome focussed and act with integrity to broker productive relationships.
  • Enterprising – We constantly seek out opportunities to benefit the communities we serve and ensure sustainable growth.
  • Learning – We value learning to continuously improve and maximise our impact.
  • Customer Focus  – We focus on the needs of our communities to ensure great experiences.
  • Equality – We value diversity and tackle inequalities to engage those with the most to gain.

Active Partnerships have committed to a Network Charter that helps us to work smarter together and strengthens individual and collective quality, value and impact. 

Who we work with

The Active Partnerships work with a range of national and local partners to increase engagement in sport and physical activity and create the conditions for an active nation.