Places for People builds on success of Big Sister project to create more healthy communities
Places for People - the UK’s leading social enterprise - has launched the Active Communities Programme – helping more people live healthier lifestyles in Amber Valley.
Continuing the progress made from the Big Sister Project, and other successful projects including Still On The Go and Make Your Move, the Active Communities programme will focus on delivering and promoting work in local communities in Amber Valley, Sheffield, Norwich and Milton Keynes to bolster community engagement and investment initiatives.
Recently, Places for People partnered with four organisations – Places Leisure, Places Foundation, Women in Sport, and Hey Girls – to successfully deliver the Big Sister Project. A programme designed to support teenage girls to enjoy sport, exercise and physical activity during puberty whilst also alleviating period poverty by providing access to puberty education and free period products. There are currently 11 Places Leisure Centres delivering this project throughout this year and beyond.
Now, the Active Communities programme will work on the ground, with the aim of delivering further real social impact where it matters to support customers and communities to be more active, healthier and improve their wellbeing. The programme will foster local relationships and provide social, exercise and wellbeing activity opportunities by supporting at least 75 community organisations by March 2024. These organisations will be supported through a range of partnerships including with Places for People’s leisure provider Places Leisure and receive support with funding through the Places Foundation - an independent charity that is supported by the Places for People Group.
The first grant applications have already been received for projects across the country including a community craft group in Amber Valley, a girls’ health and fitness event in Sheffield, a games room in a retirement living scheme in Hampshire, a youth boxing project in Milton Keynes, and refugee football sessions in Norwich.
Places for People’s Director of Places Impact Marcus Hulme explained: “We are delighted to launch our Active Communities Programme – helping to protect the health and wellbeing of people living in our communities in these initial target areas.
“Our team are already active on the ground implementing eight new projects which we aim to increase week-on-week. The team will continue to foster new partnerships and engage with those who share our passion for removing the obstacles that hinder peoples’ desire to live a healthy life.”
Active Communities has been shaped by real-world data gathered from Places for People customers through a national wellbeing survey*. The survey revealed that only 20% of respondents were mostly or completely satisfied with their health, significantly lower than the UK average of 45%. Additionally, 59% of participating households had at least one person with a disability or limiting condition. These statistics have guided the decision-making process in developing the Active Communities programme.
Marcus continued: “This data showed a clear demand from people within Places for People’s communities in Sheffield, Amber Valley, Norwich and Milton Keynes, as they aspire to get more active.
Active Communities is the latest in a wave of support from Places for People for customers in these regions, and builds on the recent Big Sister project; launched in May 2022 and supported by Women in Sport and social enterprise Hey Girls, Big Sister has already engaged more than 3,250 girls, 70 community partners and 68 schools – breaking down the prohibitive barriers of affordability, body confidence, managing periods or worrying about safety or harassment.
Marcus concluded: “Through investing in our Active Communities programme, we will continue to be able to help people protect their health and wellbeing. I’m delighted with what the new team has already achieved and look forward to supporting hundreds more people as we nurture active, thriving and engaged communities across the country.”
Find out more at https://www.placesforpeople.co.uk/about-us/community/community-projects
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