Connecting Through Place
Exploring how local context, relationships and collaboration drive meaningful change in physical activity and inequalities.
Join us for the forthcoming Leap Partner Event, where we bring together partners from across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes to strengthen connections, share learning, and deepen our collective impact on physical activity.
For this session, we’re excited to be hosting the event in Milton Keynes, shifting from our usual Aston Clinton venue to better reflect and connect with place-based work happening across the area.
What to expect:
- A snapshot of the Milton Keynes Place Expansion Programme (PEP), highlighting progress, insights, and learning from work on the ground
- National spotlights showcasing place-based approaches to tackling physical inactivity, offering inspiration and wider context
- Local partner stories from across Bucks and MK, sharing practical examples of how organisations are addressing inequalities in their communities
- A series of fast-paced “power updates” from partners, providing quick insights into current work, opportunities, and developments
Above all, this event is designed to create space for connection, between people, organisations, and places. Whether you’re building partnerships, sharing challenges, or exploring new ideas, this is an opportunity to strengthen the network working to make active lives the norm for everyone.
We look forward to welcoming you and continuing this important work together.
Agenda
| Time | Who | |
|---|---|---|
| 10.30 | Arrival | |
| 10.45 | Welcome & introductions | Mark Ormerod MK Place Programme Chair |
| 11:00 | Icebreaker | Chris Gregory Leap |
| 11:10 | Place and Tackling Inequalities Local Examples: Choose 2 from 5 Sharing and Learning Sessions • Bucks Place Universal Work • MK PEP Hypertension Test and Learn • MK PEP Schools Cycling (Two Mile Ash and Greenley's) • Movement Champions with Truby's Garden Tea Room • YMCA - TBC | Shay Fenlon Portia/Chantelle Charlotte/Jake Chris/Kurshida TBC |
| 11:50 | Movement Break | |
| 12:00 | MK Place Work Overview and Update: 1. What’s been achieved during Discovery Phase (year 1) 2. Key Resources and Tools available for all partners to use. 3. Overview of Phase 2 October 2026 – March 2028. | Rhiannon Smith MK PEP Charlotte Carr MK PEP |
| 12:30 | Working in Place is a National Priority 1. Physical activity and sport P within the wider context of things like Neighbourhood working in health, prevention, Governmental focus on inequalities and areas that are underserved, structural change in local government and health etc. 2. The learning from Local Delivery Pilots and the last 2 years of the expansion and universal work. The challenge of short term and long-term investment and impact. 3. Reflecting on the above, what can we all do to sustain progress. It’s not about structure or process, it's about the way of working, the longer-term influence on policy and decisions making and really this is about this room and you as individuals. | Chris Perks Sport England and LGA Tutor. Director System Change Solutions |
| 13:05 | Power Updates (10 mins) MK Skills Plan MK Sport Strategy MK Movers | Michelle Kelly Mark S/Portia |
| 13:15 | Summary and key takeaways | Mark Ormerod |
| 13:20 | Lunch and networking | |
