Cross-sector partners work together on integrating physical activity into health and care

Representatives from across the Active Partnerships network were joined in Manchester today (27 September) by delegates from the NHS, charities, national partners, and local government at the latest event focusing on how to integrate physical activity into health and care systems.

The event, which was carefully designed to foster connectivity, strengthen relationships and enable cross-sector partnerships, was organised by the Active Partnerships National Organisation, Sport England and NHS Horizons.

With the new Government regularly speaking about the importance of prevention when it comes to transforming the NHS, as reiterated once again by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP, in his speech at the Labour Party Conference this week, the event in Manchester provided another opportunity for partners and delegates to highlight their belief that a prevention-powered NHS needs movement and physical activity at its core.

The event was organised with the aim of evaluating recent activity and data, exploring ways of working together and outlining the next steps, as Annie Holden, Strategic Lead for Health for the Active Partnerships National Organisation, explained:

“Today’s event was a great opportunity to celebrate the excellent activity that has recently taken place, identify how we can build on the great work happening across the country, and agree clear actions that we need to take in order to continue moving this crucial work forward. We want to continue supporting people who work in health and care to give greater priority to physical activity.

“We were delighted to see so many people in attendance today, and particularly pleased to have attracted cross-sector representation at the event. This shows there is a clear appetite to work collaboratively to integrate physical activity into health and care, to help achieve our aims of easing the burden on the NHS and helping people across the country to prevent illness and manage existing long-term conditions. Ultimately, like the new Government, we want to help people to live well for longer and know that we are well placed to support this important mission.”

Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Sport England’s Executive Director for Place, also spoke at the event and said:

“We are unashamedly focusing on the places that need the most support and we know that health is a top priority in these places. With the significant investment that Sport England is making across the country, we want to make a fundamental change and ensure we are hardwiring physical activity into every outcome of our work.

“We know this will take time but through the cross-sector work supported by events like this one, we can come together to make a huge difference.”

Marc Harris, Head of Insight and Impact, NHS Horizons attended the event and said:

“Today we experienced the magic which can happen when more than 160 people from across the sector come together to creatively explore how physical activity can be further integrated into health and care. We witnessed the huge progress which is being made to transform the lives of people across the population.

“By working together, rooting our efforts in real experiences, and shifting how we talk about movement, we’re poised to make lasting change. It’s not just about going far, but going far together.”

Today’s event in Manchester also included a session led by Craig Blain from Move Consulting, who provided an update on the Sport England funded project, that they have been appointed to work on with the APNO. This project is aiming to provide easily accessible physical activity pathways for health and care and looking at how to create a framework of support that includes information, guidance and resources.