Major active lifestyles campaign in Swindon

Swindon organisations are joining forces in a new approach to helping lead more active lifestyles.

They are asking what improvements are needed in local areas to enable as many people as possible to take part.

Voluntary Action Swindon, on behalf of Wiltshire and Swindon Sports Partnership (WASP), is currently speaking to local residents in specific areas in the Central Swindon North Parish Council and South Swindon Parish areas. 
This work will help the organisations to understand issues preventing residents and families from being active, while also speaking to local people who would like to be part of the solution.
The move comes as part of a national initiative to get individuals and communities more active. As well as being used by WASP in the development phase of this work, the findings from the conversations are also being reported to Swindon Borough Council, as a key partner in the project. They will be used by the council’s Health and Wellbeing Board to inform future health improvement approaches supported by the Council.
Cllr Jim Grant, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Partnerships, said: “We know how important it is that the Council works with partners to help improve local people’s access to physical activity. 
"Our mission to build a fairer Swindon relies on understanding their needs and the hard work of Voluntary Action Swindon to run this community place-based programme will help us to understand how we can improve the lives of local residents.
“Our thanks go to everyone involved in making this project a reality, including Wiltshire and Swindon Sport for leading the project. Without this dedicated work by local partners, we would not be able to serve our local communities.
“Physical activity makes a big difference to our health, and so I’m asking anyone who is eligible to please attend a consultation event or fill in the online survey, so we can help to make people across Swindon healthier and happier.”
The council is supporting the project as part of its mission to build a fairer Swindon, which recognises residents need more opportunities to enhance their physical and mental health.
Voluntary Action Swindon will find out from residents whether there are financial, social or physical barriers preventing them from being physically active. 
Following successful community consultations held in November, residents in Moredon, Gorse Hill, Pinehurst, Penhill, Park North, Park South, Walcot and Central Swindon, including Broadgreen, are now invited to attend the following events later this month:
Monday, 20 January - John Moulton Hall, Penhill, SN2 5DU, 2pm-4pm
Tuesday, 21 January - St. Andrews Church, Walcot, SN3 3DZ, 9.30am-11.30am
Wednesday, 22 January - Pinetrees Community Centre, Pinehurst, SN2 1RF, 12pm-2pm
Monday, 27 January - Broadgreen Community Centre, SN1 2AN, 12pm-2pm
Tuesday 28, January - St. Johns Church, Parks, SN3 2LG, 2pm-4pm
Thursday 30, January - Gorse Hill Baptist Church, SN2 1AA, 1pm-3pm
Although the events are free, residents are asked to book in advance. Places can be booked here.
Feedback from residents will help the council and local partners understand what is working well in specific areas and the challenges affecting physical activity levels.
Comments so far include recognition that people in Swindon are proud of the area they live in, that there are good levels of community spirit, while recognising that young people need increased access to physical activity to ensure they spend less time using digital technology.
Carol Willis, CEO at Voluntary Action Swindon, said: “We have already spoken to several residents about what’s happening in their neighbourhood. By working together, we can look at solutions to make Swindon a more active place for everyone. We look forward to speaking to more local people in the coming months.”
Local people can fill in a community survey via the Voluntary Action Swindon website: https://vas-swindon.org/placed-based-community-surveys/