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Get Cheshire West Moving

Appendix and References

Uniting the Movement

Sport England’s Uniting the Movement strategy (2021) focuses on tackling inequalities in physical activity, targeting older adults, women, people with disabilities, and lower socioeconomic groups. Aligned with Local Government Association guidance, it promotes tailored approaches to increase participation. The strategy sets out five focus areas:

  • Recovering from COVID-19 and reinventing opportunities.
  • Connecting communities via sport and physical activity.
  • Providing positive experiences for children and young people.
  • Strengthening links between activity, health, and wellbeing.
  • Developing active environments and protecting spaces.

NHS England: Harnessing the benefits of physical activity

The NHS, in collaboration with national and local partner organisations, can harness the full potential of physical activity to help people live healthier, longer, and more independent lives.

Empowering clinicians and health and care professionals with the skills and confidence to discuss and promote physical activity, integrating it into key clinical pathways, aligning it with Core20PLUS5 for adults, children and young people, and supporting staff to stay active, the NHS can help to transform patient outcomes and reduce health inequalities. The four ways forward are:

  1. Empowering health and care professionals
  2. Integrating physical activity into clinical pathways
  3. Supporting the NHS workforce
  4. Supporting innovation and evaluation with partners

All Together Active

In Cheshire and Merseyside, the sub-regional physical activity strategy for health and social care, All Together Activex highlights physical activity as a cornerstone for preventing non-communicable diseases, improving mental health, and addressing health inequalities. Data suggests that while some local authorities are performing well, disparities persist, particularly in areas with socioeconomic deprivation. Across the sub-region, collaborative efforts are underway to integrate physical activity into healthcare, planning, and community engagement frameworks.

The Cheshire and Merseyside All Together Active Strategy, led by the Integrated Care Board, envisions a sub-region with fewer health inequalities linked to inactivity. By 2026, its goals include:

  • Supporting local places to leverage physical activity to improve population health.
  • Embedding movement, sport, and physical activity into health and social care systems.
  • Reducing health inequalities measurably.
  • Empowering 150,000 inactive residents to become active.

This approach emphasises whole-system collaboration, behaviour change, and partnership-building to achieve the Marmot ambitions of reducing inequalities and improving health outcomesxi.

Active Cheshire’s Strategy

Active Cheshire’s strategy sets out a bold vision for a network of connected system partners working together to create equal access to physical activity and sport, building healthier, more active Cheshire & Warrington where physical activity and sport are a natural part of daily life for everyone.

The Challenge
Too few people in Cheshire & Warrington are regularly active enough to support their physical and mental health. Childhood and adult inactivity rates are sadly increasing, coupled with alarming drop-off rates at every life stage from adolescence to older age. These trends are underpinned by deep-rooted inequalities.

Active Cheshire Approach
Active Cheshire will unite, inspire and empower partners to tackle these challenges through three strategic priorities:

  • Active Systems
  • Active People & Places
  • Active Environments

Delivering the following strategic outcomes

  • Improved outcomes for people
  • Stronger, more collaborative partnerships
  • Inclusive, sustainable spaces for physical activity and sport

Underpinned by a focus on:

  • Workforce
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Safeguarding & Welfare

Active Cheshire Timeline

  • By 2026: Establish a shared understanding of the status quo, using insights and evidence to unite us, and determine the collaborative actions needed to tackle inequalities and drive collective impact.
  • By 2028: Deepen collaboration, implement solutions, and use continuous learning and insight to improve our ways of working. By providing ongoing support and coordination, we ensure that efforts remain aligned, adaptable, and impactful.
  • By 2031: Create a culture of learning, continuous improvement and meaningful progress. By integrating data, insight and learning from each phase, we’ll continue to drive co-created solutions whilst also reflecting on previous phases to better understand conditions that create positive outcomes.

Cheshire and Warrington Sport and Physical Activity Local Skills Plan

The Cheshire and Warrington Sport and Physical Activity Local Skills Plan (2025–2028) provides a strategic roadmap for developing a skilled, inclusive, and resilient workforce that can drive improved health, wellbeing, and economic prosperity. Developed by the Local Skills Accountability Board (LSAB) a collaborative network of employers, training providers, and sector specialists convened by The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) the plan aligns with the region’s wider Local Skills Improvement Plan.

Recognising the workforce as a critical enabler of system change, the plan identifies priority actions to future-proof the sport and physical activity sector, including:

  • Raising awareness of diverse and rewarding careers across the sector
  • Expanding access to inclusive training and progression pathways
  • Supporting small and micro employers with workforce development
  • Strengthening system-wide collaboration and alignment

References

DRAFT Sports Facility Strategy to be published July 2025 and available at: Council plans, policies and strategies | Cheshire West and Chester Council

Cheshire West and Chester Council, 2017. Open Space Study and Playing Pitch Strategy. Available at: Cheshire West and Chester Council - Open Space Study and Playing Pitch Strategy - March 2017

Cheshire West and Chester Council, 2017. Open Space Study and Playing Pitch Strategy. Available at: Cheshire West and Chester Council - Open Space Study and Playing Pitch Strategy - March 2017

Cheshire West and Chester Council, 2020. Cycling and Walking. Available at: Cycling and Walking | Cheshire West and Chester Council

Cheshire West and Chester Council, 2011. Rights of Way Improvement Plan. Available at: Rights of way improvement plan | Cheshire West and Chester Council

Cheshire West and Chester Council, 2020. The Climate Emergency. Available at: The Climate Emergency | Cheshire West and Chester Council

Cheshire West and Chester Council, 2011. Local Transport Plan 2011-2026. Available at: Local Transport Plan 2011-2026 | Cheshire West and Chester Council

OHID Public health profiles – Physical Activity (phe.org.uk).

Chief Medical Officer Physical Activity Guidelines Available at: Physical activity guidelines: UK Chief Medical Officers' report - GOV.UK

NHS Health and wellbeing framework. Available at: NHS England » NHS health and wellbeing framework

RCGP Active practice Charter. Available at: Physical Activity Hub: Become an RCGP Active Practice | RCGP Learning

Cheshire West and Chester, 0-19 Being Active Joint Strategic Needs Assessment. Available at: Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) | Cheshire West and Chester Council

The Active Child Study, The CHILD Research Group: ActiveCHILD Study – The CHILD Research Group

Youth Sport Trust. A new normal for children’s physical activity in the wake of the pandemic.

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