Strategic Priority
Strengthening Communities
Working with communities in a place-based approach, to use the power of physical activity to build resilience, connection and wellbeing, is at the heart of what Active Essex do.
Understanding the unique needs of local communities and through place-based working Active Essex have been able to sustain strong trusted relationships and build upon identified strengths within place. This is helping to ensure co-designed and community led physical activity and sport opportunities are available for those facing the greatest inequalities.
Priorities for this strategic priority this year:
- Tackling Inequalities
- Building Resilience and Capacity
- Hardwiring physical activity into shared community spaces
- Asset Based Community Development (ABCD)
- Sport and Youth Crime Prevention
Tackling inequalities
Building upon the last six years of learning from the Local Delivery Pilot, this year Active Essex worked with key system partners to secure further Sport England investment towards Place Partnerships Deepening in Colchester, Tendring and Basildon and secured Place Partnership development awards to expand work into Castle Point, Harlow and Thurrock. This success will enable a system-wide approach to continue to drive transformational change, positively impacting on residents facing the greatest inequalities in these areas, whilst key learnings and ways of working will be shared and implemented across other areas of Essex too. With development phases underway, key system partners have been regularly meeting with Active Essex facilitation, as well as a number of test and learn projects. Read more about the opportunity this is bringing in the case study further below.
Another core initiative which is helping to provide vital support for low-income families has been the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme, in Essex named, Essex ActivAte.
Since 2021, the programme has been breaking down barriers, offering dynamic, free physical and enrichment activities, alongside a nutritious meal, family support and food education during the school holidays. This initiative is a lifeline for children on free school meals, and those from low-income families, providing robust support to local communities.
Key learnings
It's important to take time to reflect and understand the learnings from work undertaken, in order to focus on ways to improve in the future.
Focus on reach
Engagement with schools and an improved booking process has helped reach new audiences.
Target audience
Tailoring marketing approaches to target audiences that need places at clubs the most.
SEND support
Working with partners identified areas to ensure additional SEND clubs were available.
Half-term offer
Half term offer is a 3rd smaller due to funding, so comms must manage expectations.
Dive in to our tackling inequalities case studies
The Holiday Activity and Food Programme
Strengthened relationships with partners has helped to engage more children on free school meals.
Essex Local Delivery Pilot
Extensive learnings have put Active Essex in a strong position ahead of the Place Partnerships.
Walking challenge for women only
The Women Like Us work utilises Big Team Challenge app to provide an inclusive opportunity.
Building resilience and capacity
Small businesses are facing a number of challenges with recent changes to minimum living wage, holiday pay and business tax, as well as rising inflation. This is coupled with an ongoing systemic challenge around recruitment, career pathways and talent retention of those working in the sport and physical activity sector – particularly in frontline roles such as sports coaching and activity leadership.
The Essex HAF programme is significantly contributing to the Essex economy. The programme gives local organisations opportunities for growth and deployment which has led to them employing more staff and reaching new audiences. Local HAF organisations have been able to tap into capacity building support offered by the Active Essex team, which has supported through community integration and peer support through the growth of an extensive network which shares knowledge and skills.
Our continuing Business Development support programme, which supports community organisations in need of expert guidance, has resulted in:
- 39 groups developing business or strategic plans
- Supported the creation of 12 new CIC’s and 2CIOs, ensuring organisations’ strategic goals can be met by the most suitable legal structure
- £3.75 million has been generated in new funds for organisations on the programme over 3 years.
Key learnings
It's important to take time to reflect and understand the learnings from work undertaken, in order to focus on ways to improve in the future.
Taking a balanced approach
Organisations need to develop long term business plans whilst addressing immediate challenges.
Incorrect governance
Greater focus on increasing awareness of correct governance is an urgent requirement.
Fundraising strategies
Utilising a more strategic approach leads to more successful funding applications approved.
Hardwiring physical activity into shared community spaces
Having identified key community hubs delivering a range of services and support in local places, the Active Essex team have worked closely with hubs to influence and embed physical activity as a way of engaging and supporting local people.
With 47 community hubs across Essex, Southend and Thurrock, the team have found many are working in isolation, but creation of a supportive share and learn network is being established to strengthen their offers.
In addition, 11 Places and Spaces projects were completed following 2023 London Marathon Foundation funding, and due to this success, a further round of Places and Spaces funding followed Ford RideLondon-Essex 2024. 7 projects this year have been approved, developing community assets to create greater opportunities for physical activity.
This year’s funding is helping to improve community spaces that increase physical activity opportunities for:
- Women and girls
- People living with a disability or long-term health condition
- Ethnic diverse communities
- Lower socio-economic groups
Dive into the places and spaces case studies:
Rookery View Hall
A places and spaces funded project in Castle Point.
Aythorpe Village Hall
A places and spaces funded project in Uttlesford.
Places and Spaces funding
A more detailed study on the impact of Places and Spaces funding on communities.
Active Essex Foundation
The Active Essex Foundation is a key portfolio project which sits under the Strengthening Communities team.
Active Essex Foundation have become the local experts around Asset Based Community Development (ABCD), creating workshops and offering support for organisations and system partners. This year has seen relationships flourish and many partner organisations intrigued to find out more about the ABCD ethos.
Those eager to participate in the ABCD training has included Public Health, Essex County Council Sustainable Travel team, British Triathlon and Place Partnership stakeholders.
The Sport and Youth Crime Prevention project has gone from strength to strength this year, engaging with the Essex ecosystem, influencing key partners from health and youth justice, as well as securing vital funding for further interventions that the charity’s key organisational network are already delivering.
One Maldon and the Find Your Active small grants programme have helped BoxSmart on the Ropes and Girls Inspired sessions to take place, empowering girls and providing them an outlet to increase their confidence, as well as young people that may be at risk, or already involved in anti-social behaviour.
Dive into the Active Essex Foundation case studies:
Sport and Youth Crime Prevention
A programme using the power of sport to reduce anti social behaviour.
Sport and Youth Mental Health
A programme using sport to support children and young people with poor mental wellbeing.
Working with our communities is vital
This approach has been strengthened over the past year. See how Essex is utilising it here.
