Health & Wellbeing of Adults Newsletter May 2025
Latest Adult Activity Levels
Sport England’s latest Active Lives Adult survey shows that 63.7% of adults in England achieved the recommended 150+ minutes of physical activity a week. This means that 2.4 million more adults are being active on a regular basis since the survey began in 2016. In Kent and Medway, 62.7% of adults are achieving this recommendation, meaning 71,900 adults are now more active since 2016.
However, nationally 36.3% of adults are not active enough. Locally, this figure is 37.3% and inequalities still remain. Women, those from lower socio-economic groups and Black and Asian people are still less likely to be active. We also know that active people are more likely to be happier, have higher self-esteem, be more trusting and positive about their communities than inactive people.
Everyday Active for Health
Everyday Active is Active Kent & Medway’s flagship campaign helping people to move more in their everyday life. We’re delighted to share our film ‘Everyday Active for Health’ capturing how the campaign and website is helping to tackle the growing health challenges across Kent and Medway, by providing Health Professionals, GPs, social workers and frontline workers with resources, training and opportunities to help support their patients and service users to become more physically active.
The short film features Anjan Ghosh, Director of Public Health at Kent County Council, Dr Catherine Norwood from Charing Surgery plus Joe and Tina, who kindly share their personal stories of becoming more active and how this is helping their physical health and mental wellbeing.
Follow this link to find out more
Everyday Active Partner Hub
Everyday Active has been designed to assist health practitioners in having effective conversations with their patients about physical activity, that can lead to meaningful and sustainable behaviour change. Another of our primary objectives is to help leisure providers and community organisations engage new audiences in physical activity. We have created a partner toolkit plus several resources to accompany the Everyday Active campaign, which are available to download. If you would like to receive free copies of any of the resources, please email activekent@kent.gov.uk.
You will also find links to training opportunities, other partner resources and campaigns, which may help you to encourage less active people to become more active.
Follow this link to access the Everyday Active Partner Hub
Everyday Active Workshops
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:
- Tuesday 8 July, 13:00 – 14:30
- Thursday 18 September, 9.30 – 11:00
- Tuesday 2 December, 13:00 – 14:30
“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.
Follow this link to register for an Everyday Active Workshop
Everyday Active Summer Challenge
The Everyday Active Summer Challenge runs for 4 weeks from 1 – 30 June 2025 and it’s all about swapping motorised transport for two legs, two wheels or four wheels, if you’re a wheelchair user. Making active travel choices is an easy way to fit activity into your day and can help reduce the risk of obesity and many chronic diseases, improve mental health and your overall well-being. There are so many benefits of Active Travel, we hope you’ll join us for this new Challenge.
Sign up to Kent’s free Activity tracker to take part in the challenge. Already have an account? Make sure you log in to join the Summer Challenge.
Follow this link to join the Everyday Active Summer Challenge
NHS Position Statement
NHS England recently shared their position statement around harnessing the power of physical activity for health.
‘There is overwhelming evidence that the benefits of physical activity far outweigh any risks, for both adults and children and even for those with health conditions. Embedding physical activity into every aspect of life-long healthcare will benefit patients, NHS staff and the wider population.’
Unlocking the potential of physical activity will require healthcare leaders to be much more ambitious, incorporating promotion of physical activity into wider plans on prevention and long-term conditions management. 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.
Physical Activity and Mental Health
Mind’s Safe and Effective Practice Guidance
Sport, physical activity and movement can play a powerful role in helping people with mental health problems to stay well. That’s why we’re supporting Mind’s new guidance on safe and effective practice for those delivering physical activity and mental health programmes.
The guidance has been co-developed with people with lived experience of mental health problems, coaches, front-line deliverers, healthcare professionals and over 150 organisations. It will help to shape future physical activity delivery across different settings to support mental health outcomes. It will ensure we keep participants and those delivering sessions safe throughout the process.
Wellbeing Programmes
Wilder Wellbeing
Kent Wildlife Trust is running FREE wilder wellbeing programmes this spring and summer in Canterbury, Thanet, Dover, and Romney Marsh. Sessions involve general walks, opportunities to learn relaxation techniques in nature, and opportunities to meet others. After the programmes end, participants will be offered opportunities to continue to meet up, link in with other services and explore volunteering opportunities.
There are also programmes for carers and NHS workers, sessions to support people to stop smoking, and a 6-week programmes for adults living with physical or mental health conditions, loneliness, or social isolation.
Young Onset Parkinson’s Online Group
Parkinson’s UK is excited to launch a new online group for people with young onset Parkinson’s. This is a ‘podcast club’ – like a book club with less reading! This is a space for people to:
- Enjoy a friendly chat
- Share stories, information and support including physical activity and mental health
- Connect with others who have similar experiences
Each month, discussions will be loosely based around a podcast episode, but your own experiences are just as valuable. Just like a book club, the social connection is what matters most.
Supporting Disabled People
Activity Alliance commissioned Better Decisions Together to explore the role of healthcare professionals in supporting disabled people to be more physically active. The report published in April 2025, based on findings from in-depth focus groups with disabled people, found that NHS and healthcare professionals are trusted messengers and can provide guidance through personalised support and a multi-disciplinary approach.
The project explored opportunities to work collaboratively with physical activity providers and to facilitate accessible and streamlined referral systems.
Funding Opportunities
Active Kent & Medway Small Grant
Active Kent & Medway can provide funding of up to £500 towards equipment, coaching fees, venue hire or marketing for projects that encourage and increase participation in physical activity for Kent or Medway residents.
Funding could be available for projects such as new programmes, festivals, events, launches or celebrations of activity, that re-engage with previous audiences and/or encourages those new to activity to continue to be active. Please check the grant conditions and criteria.
Funding to tackle isolation and loneliness
Barchester’s Charitable Foundation is a registered charity that helps older people and adults with a disability across England, Scotland, Wales and Jersey. Their focus is about connecting or re-connecting people with others in their local community.
They support applications for funding of up to £2,500, from community health professionals, community groups and registered charities that combat isolation and loneliness and enable older people and adults with disabilities to be active and engaged.
Better Mental Health and Wellbeing Community Fund
Launched to coincide with this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, the 2025 Kent and Medway Better Mental Health and Wellbeing Community Fund is now open, offering grants from £500 to £10,000.
The fund is run by the Kent and Medway Suicide Prevention Programme, a partnership of NHS organisations, Kent County Council (KCC) and Medway Council.
Designed to test innovative ideas, develop evidence of what works and support grassroots projects to continue to support their communities. Deadline for applications is 9 June 2025.
National Bike Week
Other News
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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