Health & Wellbeing of Adults Newsletter May 2024
Latest Adult Activity Levels
Sport England’s latest Active Lives Adult Survey shows that nationally, 63.4% of adults are meeting the Chief Medical Officers guidelines of doing 150 minutes or more of physical activity a week. That’s two million more adults getting active on a regular basis since the survey began in 2016. In Kent and Medway, 63% of adults are achieving this recommendation, meaning 66,800 adults are now more active since 2016.
However, nationally 36.6% of adults are not active enough. Locally, that figure is 37% and inequalities still remain. Women, those from lower socio-economic groups, disabled people and Black and Asian People are still less likely to be active than others.
Positive findings from the report include fitness, active travel, swimming and team sports continuing to recover.
Annual Review 2023-24
We recently published our Annual Review providing a summary of what we achieved and what we learnt in 2023-24.
The review provides links to stories and videos designed to bring what we do, and what we are so passionate about, to life. Sharing the experiences of real people from across the county and how sport and physical activity really can change lives.
We’d like to thank the hundreds of organisations and individuals across Kent and Medway that we work with on a daily basis to get more people, more active, more often.
Everyday Active
Everyday Active is Active Kent & Medway’s flagship campaign helping more people to be more active in their everyday life. The website, www.everydayactivekent.org.uk is central to the campaign. It promotes activities offered by partners countywide and provides support and resources for health professionals, social prescribers, One You advisers and other partners to have meaningful and productive conversations about physical activity.
Workshop
The Everyday Active Workshop is for anyone wanting to improve their knowledge and understanding of the benefits of physical activity, to feel confident about having conversations with others to help get more people, more active across Kent and Medway. Join us online for one of our next free workshops taking place on the following dates:
- Wednesday 19 June 2024, 10:00 – 11:30
- Thursday 26 September 2024 13:00 – 14:30
- Wednesday 4 December 2024, 10:00 – 11:30
“I attended your online workshop today and wanted to say what a very worthwhile session it was…Well done for the great work of Everyday Active”. NHS Health Promotion, Gravesham
Physical Activity for Health Pathways
Active Kent & Medway is set to play a significant role in how the health sector across England supports adults to develop a more active lifestyle.
We have been selected as one of 39 organisations that will help design and test possible solutions so that the health sector, together with physical activity providers, can support those living with, or at risk of, a long-term health condition.
We will join one of five Communities of Practice focused on the stages of a pathway – Recruitment, Triage, Behaviour Change, Opportunities and Exit routes – to co-design information tools and guidance for the health sector.
Are you ageist?
Age Without Limits is a campaign from The Centre for Ageing Better, who are pioneering ways to make ageing better a reality for everyone.
The campaign aims to inspire and inform those in power to tackle the inequalities faced by older people, call out and challenge ageism in all its forms and encourage the widespread take-up of brilliant ideas and approaches that help people to age better.
Start with taking the quiz to find out if you are ageist.
Everyday Mental Health
Release the pressure
Active Kent & Medway is proud to support the Release the pressure campaign delivered by Kent County Council and A Better Medway.
We invite local organisations, clubs and community groups across Kent and Medway to get behind this important and timely campaign. We’ve produced a campaign toolkit with editable posters, social media graphics and suggested tweets for local clubs, national governing bodies of sport and other organisations to use in their own promotion of the campaign.
Big Bike Revival
Cycling UK, funded by Active Travel England and Kent County Council, are delighted to bring Big Bike Revival for Workplaces in Kent. Together they aim to inspire, support and encourage more people to travel to and from work by bike by offering FREE cycling events in the workplace at a time and venue to suit staff. They offer a whole host of activities designed around Behaviour Change theory including: Dr Bike pop-up cycle repair session; roadside bike maintenance workshops; Off Road Cycle Training for complete beginners and improvers; On Road Cycle Training for confidence building and road safety skills; Led Rides for health and wellbeing and for commuter route planning.
Awards
Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards
The Kent Mental Wellbeing Awards accepts nominations linked to three themes – kindness and compassion, wellbeing, and mental health. The awards will be staged in October by the mental health charity Mind in Bexley and East Kent in collaboration with a range of wellbeing and mental health organisations.
Nominations can be linked to a simple act of kindness that lifted the spirits, a business that has improved staff wellbeing, through to a targeted initiative delivered by a charity or statutory organisation to support a mental health issue.
This year, new categories have been added for veterans, seniors, partnership projects and suicide prevention. Nominations from across Kent and Medway can be submitted up until noon on 1 September 2024.
Muslim Sports Awards
The Muslim Sports Awards are more than a celebration, it is a beacon of change aimed at addressing the concerning levels of inactivity within the British Muslim community and the inequalities faced in accessing sports and physical activities.
The awards, run by the Muslim Sports Foundation, stand as a testament to the commitment to inclusivity, showcasing and rewarding the excellence and resilience of British Muslims in sports and physical activity. Categories include Sports Personality of the Year, Coach of the Year, Community Initiative, Lifetime Achievement, and Rising Star. The deadline for nominations is Sunday 30 June 2024.
Other News & Announcements
Contact Us
We’d love to hear from you
If there’s anything in this newsletter you’d like to discuss, then just get in touch and one of our team members will get back to you as soon as possible. Please email: activekent@kent.gov.uk
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