Published Wednesday 3 February 2021 at 11:20
Blackburn with Darwen Council is pledging support for ‘Uniting the Movement’, a new Sport England strategy.
It is a 10-year vision with a strong theme of seeking to tackle the inequalities within in sport and physical activity, with a focus on providing opportunities to people and communities that have traditionally been left behind. Helping to remove the barriers to activity has never been more important, and the strategy builds a picture of how Sport England aims to address that.
Read the full strategy www.sportengland.org/why-were-here/uniting-the-movement
Blackburn with Darwen’s Executive Member for Wellbeing, Councillor Damian Talbot said: “The wellbeing of residents in BwD is dependent on our making active choices easier across the borough. It’s our responsibility to enable families, individuals and workplaces to choose the activities that suit their differing abilities and lifestyles. I’m excited about seeing what a difference this strategy will make to our communities.”
Blackburn with Darwen’s Director of Public Health, Dominic Harrison said: “It’s great for Blackburn with Darwen to be involved in this national Sport England strategy encouraging residents to be more active, in whatever way that works for them. Every way you move counts, so ask yourself what you can do, rather than focus on what is more challenging. Our borough declared action on Healthy Weight because we are below average for activity, which has a knock on effect to overall health in our community. Let’s get moving, together. We have some wonderful resources and passionate advocates for health and fitness in our towns.”
Uniting the Movement links strongly to aspirations for Blackburn with Darwen Council and aligns well with ongoing work and plans from Council teams and local partners.
Throughout the pandemic the focus of Blackburn with Darwen’s re:fresh team has been encouraging any movement counts and moving more. Whilst not being able to see people in person, they’ve provided online activity classes as well as telephone support and home exercise packs. Helping people to stay active and connected to others while remaining safe at home.
Blackburn with Darwen Council are on a mission to enable residents to choose walking and cycling as their first, and easiest, mode of travel for short trips across the region.
Using emergency funding from Department for Transport (DfT) to help local authorities cope with the covid-19 crisis, a number of infrastructure changes have been implemented, with more to come. With England currently in lockdown to help fight the coronavirus pandemic, walking, cycling and being active at home are once again an essential way that many residents make up their daily exercise.
Rolled out in the summer, Phase 1 of the Witton Park to Blackburn Town Centre Stride and Ride Corridor scheme (BSR) provided a permanent safe walking and cycling route from Witton Park in Blackburn to the town centre. Witton Park is the focal point for walking and cycling in the Borough, with a Cycle Centre facility located within the 480-acre public park.
Read more about Blackburn Stride and Ride Roadmap to an active travel future for Blackburn with Darwen | The Shuttle: Blackburn with Darwen Council News
Sport England’s Together an Active Future project and the local pilot, ActiveBwD, continues to work to understand the barriers of engaging in physical activity and how we can work together to overcome them. It has been critical for residents, services and partners to come together to form lasting partnerships and relationships to create stronger, more connected communities where being active is easy and enjoyable.
Sport England’s plan is to create a nation of more equal, inclusive and connected communities in a country where people live happier, healthier and more fulfilled lives. The evidence is overwhelming that moving our bodies – through community sport, fitness and physical activity – improves our lives, individually and collectively. Blackburn with Darwen Council is committed to its role as champion of this life-changing impact, and to ensuring that all those living and working in our towns can benefit from it.
The full strategy can be found at www.sportengland.org/why-were-here/uniting-the-movement.