New place-based investment from Sport England announced for communities in Milton Keynes
We’re delighted to share that Sport England have approved new investment in areas of Milton Keynes to boost levels of physical activity among people living in the most deprived and inactive communities.
Collectively, Eaglestone, Fishermead, Springfield, Coffee Hall, Netherfield, Stacey Bushes, Fullers Slade, Hodge Lea, Green Leys and Kiln Farm are among the 53 places set to benefit from a share of Sport England’s £250million investment into the heart of communities across England, designed so that those in greatest need are able to be physically active.
The areas in Milton Keynes were identified through Sport England’s Place Needs Classification (PNC) methodology and the place-based work here will build on 4 years of honest conversations and learning from the 12 Local Delivery Pilot areas Sport England have already invested in. It also sits alongside further anticipated investment to focus place-based work in Buckinghamshire.
Sport England research calculates that active lifestyles save £10.5 billion a year for the health and social care system. This relieves some of the NHS burden, preventing 1.3 million cases of depression, 600,000 of diabetes and 57,000 of dementia (the UK’s leading cause of death) annually.
Less than half of children are meeting the Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines for daily physical activity and women, people from lower socio-economic groups and Black and Asian people are still less likely to be active than other adults.
To tackle these stubborn inequalities and break down barriers to a more active life, Sport England is taking a ‘Place-based approach’ – partnering with local organisations and leaders who understand both the specific needs of their communities and the local assets that are available – to support people to play sport and get active.
Locally, the money will be used to create meaningful, long-term, community led change, supported through distributed leadership to reduce the barriers to active lifestyles.
Leap’s CEO, Mark Ormerod welcomed the announcement.
“I started my professional career working as a lifeguard, at Woughton Centre in Milton Keynes in 1992. What was clear then and even more obvious to me now, is that MK is a complex place. On one hand Milton Keynes is a vibrant, constantly-evolving, economic powerhouse, whilst on the other, a city with pockets of profound deprivation and limited opportunity.
Being successful with our application for place-based investment from Sport England allows us to work in an unprecedented way, with unprecedented investment with a huge range of partners; most importantly, directly with residents to enable them to tackle inequalities through movement, activity and sport in a systemic way.
There is a plethora of evidence which shows from being more physically active we expect to see changes in physical health, mental wellbeing, social cohesion, positive environmental impact, further economic benefits and savings. To optimise this opportunity, we need engage everyone with a vested interest to work with us on solutions.
Our first 12-18 months will be about discovery, where we want to genuinely understand the barriers stopping people from moving, being physically active and playing sport. This is a once in a generation opportunity to capitalise on Sport England’s investment and expertise and help residents live healthier and happier lives.”
