Sport England £1.01m investment to help people get active to improve their health
Sport England is investing £1.01 million in Sheffield to help people move more and improve their health.
The two-year funding is being jointly managed by Sheffield City Council and Sheffield Hallam University. It will be used to help fund a Move Well project and a community development scheme.
Members of the council’s communities, parks and leisure policy committee yesterday (March 23) agreed to set up the Hallam partnership. It will tackle “deep-rooted inequalities in physical activity and health outcomes across the city,” said a report to the committee.
Five areas of the city have been identified as priority neighbourhoods for action, particularly targeting people living with long-term health conditions.
They are Firth Park, Woodthorpe, Arbourthorne, Batemoor and Jordanthorpe and Tinsley.
Park and Arbourthorne ward councillor Nabeela Mowlana said: “This is really important work.
“We’re very much aware of the 10-year life expectancy gap between some parts of the city and the other, so we’re really keen to see this work taking place.”
Learning
She asked for ward councillors to be kept informed so they could help to publicise the project.
Coun Laura Moynahan said she has served on the advisory board of Move Well. “It’s really good to see it’s reaching groups that haven’t traditionally been involved in exercise.”
She asked if the lessons learned about what works will be fed into other projects such as Everyone Active and to places such as the Uriah Rennie Leisure Centre, formerly Springs Leisure Centre, in Arbourthorne.
Kathryn Mudge, the council’s physical activity, sport and leisure service manager, said that learning evaluation and sharing what works is a key part of Sport England’s ethos.
She said the projects will all be community led, with peple being supported to create their own plans, and that ward councillors’ involvement will be crucial.
Committee chair Coun Kurtis Crossthorn said: “This project will not only help people lead healthier lives but it’s also that community aspect to it as well.
“Hopefully after the investment period the benefit of this will be felt in the communities for years and years to come because it’s about building the infrastructure alongside it.”