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Introduction

Before the pandemic, systems thinking and whole systems change was already being recognised as the means of addressing the stubborn social, environmental and economic challenges we face. These challenges, and particularly the challenge of health inequality, have now been intensified and systems change and a whole systems approach will continue to grow in importance in our industry.

The former Local Government Physical Activity Partnership gathered together examples of best practices from around the country where local authorities have taken a whole systems approach to tackling inactivity. These examples have been categorised into strategies and programmes to provide insight into where collaboration has provided tangible and positive outcomes.

Strategy

8 Investments – ISPAH

A call to action for everyone, everywhere, including professionals, academics, civil society and decision makers, to embed physical activity in national and subnational policies.

This report supports local places to create a whole system approach that incorporates physical activity and shows some great examples showing how you can put this into practice.

Supporting thriving communities | Oxford City Council

Oxford City Council have combined four outdated strategies into one Thriving Communities Strategy that takes a whole system approach to inequality with tackling inactivity being a key theme.

The strategy was created by working with partners and the community following an extensive city conversation. It uses meaningful measures such as learning to swim as proxy measures for tackling inequalities.

The strategy was presented at the International Public Policy Observatory Cities policy roundtable on “The Process of Good Policymaking” in January 2023

Sheffield – whole system approach

Sheffield have developed a pioneering ‘whole systems’ approach to increasing physical activity in Sheffield called ‘Move More’.  It was one of first such approaches and was groundbreaking move away from siloed, single-organisation approaches, toward a cohesive, place-based approach that recognises the complexity of the issue.  Sheffield’s work on whole systems approaches to increasing physical activity has informed significant policy developments and has yielded internationally recognised academic outputs.  In 2022, we have presented our work at international conferences and have hosted visitors from Germany and Japan who came to learn about our approach.

We strive to learn ‘what works’ and are committed to evaluating our approach and sharing our findings.

For more information see the Move More website and the Move More timeline.

 If you have some good practice on whole systems approaches to tackle inactivity that you’d like to share please get in touch with Ian Brooke at IBROOKE@oxford.gov.uk.

Programmes

Active Oxfordshire Move Together Programme

12/12/2023

Move Together provides referral or self-referral routes for individuals and can help you to better manage a long-term health condition, increase your energy levels, help with mood, or weight management and overall improve your physical and mental health.

Active Essex Prevention and Enablement model

26/07/2023

Active Essex The Prevention and Enablement Model (PEM) was a two-year test and learn initiative which used a whole systems…

Acute Cancer Recovery Centre, Eastbourne

26/07/2023

Freedom Leisure with University of Brighton in consultation with Cancer United’s CU Fitter ™ initiative. Funding was supplied by the…

FRAT Onward Referral Service, Warrington

26/07/2023

LiveWire Warrington in partnership with the Warrington healthcare professional’s network Overview Early identification and support to those who are at…

Active Northumberland’s Mams on the Move programme – helping support ante and post natal mums with their physical and emotional health through exercise, Northumberland

26/07/2023

Active Northumberland with Northumbria Midwives Trust, supported by Sport England funding 2018-2022 Overview The Mams on the Move programme is…

StandTall™, Emotional Resilience programme for 11-18 year olds, West Suffolk

26/07/2023

Abbeycroft Leisure Overview Stand Tall™ is a programme which develops emotional resilience in 11- 18 years olds across West Suffolk.…

Exercise Referral and Weight Management, London Borough of Redbridge

26/07/2023

Vision Redbridge Overview The Exercise on Referral (EOR) scheme is available to Redbridge residents aged 16 years+ who suffer with…

Be Active Urmston Community Hub in partnership with Manchester Foundation NHS Trust

26/07/2023

Be Active Urmston Community Hub in partnership with Manchester Foundation NHS Trust Overview BeActive Urmston enable Manchester Foundation NHS Trust…

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