Shropshire chosen for national investment to tackle inactivity and health inequalities

News from our partner Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin

Shropshire has been selected for a major national investment to help residents move more and reduce health inequalities.

Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, on behalf of Shropshire Integrated Place Partnership (SHIPP), has received funding from Sport England to support people who face the greatest barriers to being active, including youth, older people and communities experiencing inequality.

Being physically active is one of the most effective ways to prevent ill-health and help communities thrive.

Sport England is investing £250 million into places across England by 2028. Following a successful application from SHIPP, Shropshire has been chosen as one of these places meaning the county will benefit from over £500,000 of funding.

Shropshire Integrated Place Partnership (SHIPP) brings together partners including Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, Shropshire Council, NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care System, and the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector.

The funding award of £510,510 will be used to embed physical activity as a key driver of prevention, youth engagement, healthier environments and the management of long-term health conditions.

This will be achieved by:

• bringing together resources from across the NHS, council and VCSE sector,
• embedding physical activity into local systems and environments,
• building local capacity, capability, and leadership to better support communities,
• aligning with national neighbourhood health and youth strategies – the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Plan (derived from NHS England) and the Local Youth Transformation Pilot (from the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport).

This is not a programme of isolated projects, but a coordinated approach that places physical activity at the heart of preventing ill-health, supporting community wellbeing and improving opportunities for younger and older people across Shropshire.

Pete Ezard, Chief Executive at Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, said:

“We’re delighted to be leading on this funding award on behalf of Shropshire. This funding and opportunity will provide the time and investment needed across both a systemic and local level to explore what is required to better support the people and communities across Shropshire who are experiencing the most inequalities. Furthermore, to have equitable opportunity to gaining the benefits of movement for their physical and mental wellbeing. The collaboration with partners involved in this award will ensure the funding creates the evidence needed in engaging and supporting those most in need.”

Councillor Bernie Bentick, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health and public protection and Vanessa Whatley, Interim Chief Nursing Officer for NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, co-chairs of Shropshire’s Health and Wellbeing Board said:

“This funding is a significant opportunity for Shropshire to strengthen how we support residents to live healthier lives. By working together across organisations, we can create environments that make it easier for people to be active every day.”

Councillor Bentick added:

“Physical activity is an essential part of improving and maintaining overall health for everyone. This grant is very welcome and will help those who may struggle with exercise to be active and so improve their wellbeing.

More information will be provided soon at www.energizestw.org.uk.

Further information

About Sport England

Sport England is a public body and invests up to £300 million National Lottery and government money each year in projects and programmes that help people get active and play sport. It wants everyone in England – regardless of postcode, background or bank balance – to have the opportunity to get active. Tackling inequalities is at the heart of its 10-year strategy Uniting the Movement, with work focused on helping people who do no, or very little, physical activity and groups who are typically less active – like women, disabled people and people on lower incomes.

About Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin

We are a local charity and one of 42 organisations within the Active Partnerships network who work collaboratively with local and national partners. Our vision is to one day eliminate inactivity so that everyone can have the benefits of an active lifestyle. Energize works across three sectors: Health and social care – to help drive change, Education – to encourage more movement during the school day and Communities – to help new and existing physical activity providers to support more people to be active. You can find out more about us at www.energizestw.org.uk.