Community of practice members confirmed for pathways project

A major milestone has been reached as part of the development of physical activity for health pathways work, as representatives from thirty-nine organisations have been invited to be part of the communities of practice established for the project.

The aim of the project is to develop a framework and toolkit so that the health sector, working together with physical activity providers, can support those living with or at risk of a long-term health condition.

Annie Holden, Strategic Lead for Health from the Active Partnerships National Organisation says it’s a vital piece of work:

“Currently, one in four of us is living with multiple long-term health conditions. That statistic is set to rise to two thirds of people aged over 65 by 2035. We know that our health care systems are under pressure, yet physical activity could help prevent up to 40% of these conditions. Furthermore, a more active lifestyle could help to manage more than 20 of the most common physical and mental health conditions.”

From right across the physical activity and health sectors, representatives from these 39 organisations will join one of five communities of practice to support the co-design element of the project.

Move Consulting was selected by the Active Partnerships National Organisation to work in collaboration with them on this Sport England funded project and Director, Craig Blain, believes this is a key point in this important work which is designed to better connect the health and physical activity sectors:

“Working with our partners at Coventry University, the communities of practice will play a crucial role. They will not only be cascading information, but they will also actively test possible solutions with their networks. Collaboration, co-design and testing are essential to get this right.

The communities of practice will help us ensure that the challenges faced at a community level marry up with the conversations we are having at a national policy level. That is critical if we are to develop practical solutions that work at a local level.”

Expressions of interest were invited during a three week period in March and April and this process attracted applications from more than 135 organisations across the health and physical activity sectors. This included Active Partnerships, Local Authorities, Integrated Care Boards, Primary Care Trusts, Leisure Providers, Community Interest Companies and Community Based organisations.

Now, 39 organisations will take part in five themed communities of practice, exploring practices and solutions for physical activity for health pathways. These themes are recruitment, triage, behaviour change, structured opportunities and exit routes.

Meanwhile, the project team continues its engagement with key national stakeholders including the likes of CIMSPA, NHS Horizons and ukactive, as it seeks to develop a fit for purpose outcome.

The full list of the organisations involved in the communities of practice is as follows:

1. Active Derbyshire

2. Active Dorset

3. Active Gloucestershire

4. Active Hastings

5. Active Kent and Medway

6. Active Lancashire

7. Move It or Lose It Ltd

8. Active Oxfordshire

9. Active Suffolk

10. Active Together

11. Amber Valley Borough Council

12. Be Active

13. Buckinghamshire Council

14. Dorset Council

15. Ealing Council

16. EnergiseMe

17. Energize S-T-W

18. Get Berkshire Active

19. GLL (Cumbria)

20. GLL (South East London)

21. Greater Manchester Moving

22. Herts Sport and PA Parthersnip

23. Horizon Rehabilitation

24. Improving lives Plymouth

25. Ipswich Borough Council

26. Leamington Spa Primary Care Trust

27. London Borough Waltham Forest Council

28. Medway Council

29. MSP

30. MyTime Active

31. North Lincolnshire Council

32. Northamptonshire Sport

33. Rise

34. Rotherham United Community Trust

35. Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

36. Sport Birmingham

37. Wesport

38. Yorkshire Sport Foundation

39. Active Surrey

To find out more about the collaboration between Move Consulting and the Active Partnerships National Organisation, please click here.