Our work in Pendle is set on the foundations of collaborations with local partners and communities in order to empower local people and healthcare professionals to prioritise physical activity and create sustainable, health-promoting environments.
Through creating links with our local PCN networks to reach local GP surgeries, we have been working to create Active Practices. We have also been focused on creating an Active Place through collaboration and building on our strengths. Read more about our workstreams below:
Active Place
Active Place is a collaborative initiative that focuses on increasing physical activity within Pendle, targeting children, young people, and families. By connecting stakeholders and taking a grassroots approach, the project seeks to identify and address challenges that prevent residents from engaging in regular physical activity, with an emphasis on supporting those facing the greatest obstacles.
Our goal is to establish sustainable programs by leveraging local resources, investing in community members, and forming partnerships, ultimately creating an environment where residents can easily participate in physical activity opportunities.
Working with Family Hub’s
In September 2023, Lancashire County Council launched a network of Family Hubs throughout the county. The main goal of these Family Hubs is to provide timely access to appropriate support for individuals from birth up to 19 years, and up to 25 years for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The Family Hubs offer a diverse array of services, ranging from guidance on infant feeding to counselling, adopting a holistic approach that involves parents, caregivers, and siblings.
In October 2023, the Pendle TaAF team reached out to the Family Hub Team Lead to discuss ways to integrate and enhance physical activity within Family Hub service delivery.
Creating a community led women’s hub
Insight gained through engagement with a local women’s group highlighted the pivotal role that mothers and female figures play in family routines and behaviours. This insight led us to invest in resources to engage with women, especially from South Asian backgrounds, as a strategic approach to influencing the physical activity levels of children and young people. In alignment with the asset-based development approach, it was collectively decided that the opportunities created through Creating an Active Place would be termed as “Hubs”. Expanding on their purpose, Hub’s will be driven by the collaborative efforts of community members who share common interests and objectives, thereby leveraging the strengths of local individuals and their community.
We knew that across Nelson and Brierfield there were already several South Asian ladies only groups. Our idea was to bring them together to create one big group as they had the same aims of providing more opportunities for South Asian ladies. There were a few complications in the initial stage, which led to two ladies being employed on a shared role to take ownership to drive this hub forward. From the start this was set to be community led group, driving forward by lots of community engagement. Within the last year over 150 people have engaged with the Hub. The Hillo Hub have connected with a further 4 ladies only groups within the area, coming together to celebrate women and to help each other along the way.
Active Practice
An Active Practice is a GP surgery that actively promotes physical activity for its own staff, creating spaces and opportunities for them to engage in regular movement for both physical and mental well-being. By encouraging staff to embrace physical activity, these practices foster a culture of health and wellness within the workplace. As staff become more connected with the benefits of staying active, this mindset is naturally passed on to patients, helping to embed the importance of physical activity in everyday life. The knock-on effect not only improves staff well-being but also contributes to healthier communities overall.
Watch this short video from Barrowford Surgery, one of the Active Practices in Pendle:
For more information contact Vic McCoy, TaAF Pendle Lead: Vic.McCoy@pendleleisuretrust.co.uk