Place Navigators
Connecting local communities
Find Your Active Place Navigators are a cohort of individuals who have embedded themselves within communities to be the helping hand for many residents to find the activity that’s right for them.
As part of the key offer, when the Find Your Active behaviour change campaign launched in 2021, the then known Community Connectors, have been pivotal ever since to help connect residents with local physical activity opportunities within their community.
Utilising an asset-based community development approach, the Place Navigators are hosted with community organisations, embedded within the local area, to understand the varying needs of the public, providing vital insight to Active Essex on the opportunities and gaps within the area.
A key responsibility of the Place Navigators has been to offer support and guidance to residents, listen to their interests and signpost them to attend different activities. Many navigators will attend the first session with the individual, to help them feel reassured and comfortable – something that has been a key learning through the Find Your Active campaign development.
With the Navigators now hosted by local community organisations, it has helped them to further strengthen their relationships with community services and groups to ensure they’re aware of the support the navigators are able to provide. This has been particularly prevalent with Social Prescribers and referral organisations.
A local case study
Colchester based Nina, struggled with restricted shoulder mobility and bad knee pain, and as a result was very inactive. The Find Your Active Place Navigator, based at Changing Lives, was able to bring to her attention the Changing Lives free/low rate gym memberships. At first, she was a little hesitant due to never attending a gym before, and unsure of what exercises she would be able to do.
The Navigator was able to talk her through the different pieces of equipment and joined her initially. Nina now regularly attends the gym 3 times a week, is growing with confidence and now has full mobility in her shoulder. She even hopes to attend a group class soon.
The Place Navigators have grown from strength to strength the past year, and really helped provide great insight to our local Active Essex place teams. To build and embed on the Find Your Active campaign locally, supports many residents with new opportunities they might not have thought about before.Courtenay Mosely, Active Essex Strategic Lead for Health
