Active Essex, the county sports partnership (CSP) for Greater Essex has unveiled a bold new approach as it enters the second year of its strategic plan to get 1 million people active.
Recent figures suggest that a worrying 1 in 5 adults in Essex are not taking part in any form of physical activity or sport, and it is against this backdrop that Active Essex is introducing a new localised approach to its team structure, led by five dedicated Relationship Managers who will develop an even deeper understanding of the places they work and a closer relationships with local and community partners.
As well as working closely within a community setting, each Relationship Manager will focus on increasing participation within a specific theme including; core market, inclusion, inactivity, children & young people and workforce.
Relationship managers include:
- Juliette Raison, Relationship Manager South West Essex
Thematic lead for Core Market
- Hayley Chapman, Relationship Manager North Essex
Thematic lead for Inclusion
- Kelly Harman, Relationship Manager West Essex
Thematic lead for Inactive
- Dawn Catley, Relationship Manager South Essex
Thematic lead for Children & Young People
- Lauren Neve Relationship Manager Mid Essex
Thematic lead for Workforce
This reflects Active Essex’s close ties with Sport England, whose current strategy stresses the importance of targeted, local delivery to engage with inactive groups.
Running alongside local community initiatives, Active Essex will continue to build on the successful campaigns based on specific themes such as their ambassador programmes; This Girl Can Essex and Essex All Together which aim to inspire women and those with disabilities to increase their participation in sport and the schools programme which includes activities such as the School Games.
Through their strategy, Active Essex is striving to be a beacon of best practice for other CSPs and organisations who are working towards increasing participation in sport and physical activity.
Jason Fergus, director, Active Essex commented: “We know there is not a one-size-fits-all solution to reducing levels of inactivity and we are committed to working closely with local communities across Greater Essex to change 1 million lives by getting the county active. There are a number of reasons why people do not engage with sport and physical activity and by delivering targeted, community specific programmes, we hope to break down some of the barriers which prevent people taking part in sport and physical activity.”
Speaking on behalf of the Relationship Managers, Lauren Neve, Relationship Manager for Mid Essex and Thematic lead for Workforce, commented; “We already have a strong foundation in place and by increasing our local and themed approach, we hope we can respond directly to the needs of different communities in Greater Essex.”
Cllr Ray Gooding, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for education, said: “As one of the largest counties in the country, we have the opportunity to lead the way in identifying new and sustainable ways to encourage more people to increase their participation in sport and physical activity. The Active Essex strategy will respond directly to the different needs of residents across Greater Essex.”
To explore different ways of increasing participation in physical activity and sport at a local level, Sport England recently selected Essex as one of just 12 pilot areas to gain a share of £100 million National Lottery funding to deliver a new pioneering pilot programme. The Essex Local Delivery Pilot will run in Colchester, Basildon and Tendring with the specific aim of increasing participation in sport and physical activity in currently inactive groups.
For more information about Active Essex visit www.activeessex.org
Ends
Active Essex’s Changing 1 Million Lives Strategy: Strategic priorities:
- Drive and sustain participation
Encourage more people in Essex to become and stay active, and live healthy and active lifestyles
- Improve health and well being
Change behaviours to reduce inactivity and make a real impact on physical activity, mental health and well being
- Develop individuals and organisations
Enable people and organisations to develop skills, achieve goals and ambitions and maximise their potential
- Strengthen localities, communities and networks
Lead, develop and drive the eco-system of physical activity in Essex
Active Essex is publicly funded by Essex County Council and the new four year strategy has been developed to align with the national priorities of Sport England, Public Health England and NHS England as well as the local needs of the county’s 14 Active Networks.
For further press information or for additional photos, please contact: Jacqueline.french@genesispr.co.uk orjoe.tye@genesispr.co.uk on 01473 326436
Denise Carter, Active Essex
Email: denise.carter@activeessex.org
Tel: 07557 679100
Facebook @ActiveEssex Twitter @ActiveEssex Instagram @active_essex
Notes to Editors
- Active Essex is the Physical Activity and Sport Partnership for Greater Essex. It was formed in 2013 and continues to deliver a lasting legacy to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Seewww.activeessex.org.
- In June 2017, Active Essex launched a new four year strategy to tackle the issues around inactivity and change 1 million lives by getting Essex active
- Active Essex will focus on four main priorities as part of the 1 million strategy: to drive and sustain participation in physical activity; improve health and wellbeing amongst specific groups who are currently inactive; develop the people and organisations who work or volunteer in the sector and strengthen local partnerships and networks.
4. Active Essex is a key partner in the delivery of the Essex Local Delivery Pilot. Essex is one of only 12 places in the country to be part of this game changing Sport England initiative and will benefit from a share of around £100 million of National Lottery funding.
