Place Partnerships

Working in Place

Where you live and your individual circumstances has a big influence on your activity levels. Across England, access to physical activity isn’t equal. Some places and communities face greater barriers to being active.

A place-based approach puts communities at the heart of change with local organisations and residents working together to create the outcomes and opportunities they want to see. This approach builds on what’s already great in each place, while improving access, knowledge, and investment. It’s about listening, co-designing, and empowering communities to shape solutions that work for them.

Sport England Place Partnerships Investment

In November 2023, Sport England announced a £250 million investment under the Uniting the Movement strategy to tackle inactivity in areas identified as having the greatest need. This builds on the learning from the Local Delivery Pilots (LDPs) which Sport England have been investing in since 2017.

In Kent, the following Local Authority areas have been identified for investment:

• Thanet
• Gravesham (Westcourt and North Northfleet)
• Medway
• Swale

This investment is the result of a successful, collaborative application to Sport England, co-created by a working group that brought together knowledge from across multiple sectors in each of these communities.

FAQs about Place Partnerships in Kent

How is the investment being spent?

The initial investment from Sport England is to support a discovery phase in each of the four places, to start building the foundations for long-term change. It will contribute to:

• Capacity building, including training and development for local leaders and workforce.
• Community engagement activities to listen, learn and involve residents in shaping priorities, ensuring diverse voices are heard. It’s about understanding and tackling the root causes of inactivity, not just the symptoms.
• Test and learn interventions for small pilot projects to see what works and to find new ways to overcome barriers to being active.
• Insight and evaluation to help understand local need and capture learning to inform future investment.
• Laying the groundwork for system change by strengthening partnerships and creating structures that will last beyond this investment.

To ensure transparency and impact, local governance structures will be formally established in each of the four identified places, with dedicated Boards guiding how the funding is allocated and spent. All informed by local organisations and residents.

Which organisations are involved?

A wide range of organisations are, or will be, involved in this work across the four places including:

• Local Authorities | NHS | Public Health | Education | Job Centres | Voluntary and Community Sector Organisations | Youth Services e.g. Family Hubs | Housing Associations | Faith Groups | Police | Leisure Operators | Community Interest Companies | National Governing Bodies of Sport | Transport Planners | Planning Authorities |

This is not an exhaustive list because no single organisation can solve these challenges alone. Real, systemic change requires shared ownership and collective action.

Can I apply for funding for my activity or session?

Delivery funding for providers or programmes will come after the discovery phase and at the second stage of Sport England’s Place Partnerships investment process, if determined by the communities and their needs. It is estimated that the discovery phase will end mid to late 2026.

I already work in these areas, so can I get involved?

Absolutely. Understanding what is already happening locally is a vital part of this work and we want to accelerate or complement existing work in these areas.

Contact Us

If you’d like further information or would like to get involved in the Place Partnerships work as an organisation or resident in one of the four places, please get in touch with one of our Place Programme Managers: