To provide an update on the progress and the actions taken to work towards delivering the Physical Activity Strategy and next steps.

The item was introduced by the Consultant in Public Health.  The presentation ‘Herefordshire's Physical Activity Strategy’, was delivered as follows:

i.             The Public Health Lead – Health Behaviours presented the slides: Physical Activity in Herefordshire; Sport and Physical Activity Levels (Children and Young People in school years 1-11); and Highlights of the Action Plan Deliverables. 

Halo Leisure

ii.            Aneka Rao, Evaluation Specialist, presented the slides: Halo – Feel Good For Life; Programme Overview; Project Goals; Training and Support; Accessible Leisure Environment; Key Performance Indicators – Highlights; Wellbeing; and Partners and Signposting.  Mark Farrell, Active Communities Coordinator, presented the slides: Rika and Colin; and Session Information.  Ryan Stratton, Active Communities Manager, also contributed.

In response to a question from a board member, it was confirmed that work was to be undertaken to qualify and quantify the social return on investment.

Stride Active

iii.          Beky Williams, Managing Director, presented the slides: Stride Active – Community Interest Company; An Overview of Stride Active; Areas of Focus; Supporting Healthy Schools; Here Girls Can, including the video Here Girls Can - Be part of the Change; and Climbing and Resilience Interventions.  Sarah Volpe, Active Families Co-ordinator, presented the slides: Active Families; Active Families Physical Activity Impact; Active Families Outcomes; and A Family’s Physical Activity Journey.

The Chairperson commented on a visit to the Here Girls Can Festival in 2024, including witnessing positive changes in the levels of confidence and engagement in several participants.  Board members briefly discussed opportunities to raise the awareness of primary care practitioners to such campaigns.  A comment was made about the potential of physical activity projects to address specific inequalities within the system.

iv.          The Talk Community Health and Wellbeing Manager, responsible for the Healthy Lifestyle Service, presented slides on: Ramblers’ Wellbeing Walks.

v.           The Public Health Lead - Mental Health presented the slide: Next Steps.

Noting reference to the next step ‘Broaden the existing strategy to focus on the development of a Healthy Weight Strategy…’, a board member commented on the need to consider the linkages to new weight loss medications for obesity to be prescribed in primary care settings.

The board thanked the presenters and noted the merit of hearing from people involved in the schemes.  The Chairperson commented that the board would welcome the participation of relevant parties in appropriate agenda items at future meetings.

Resolved:  That

a)      the progress to date be noted; and

b)      the board encourages all partnership organisations to be clearly sighted on the Herefordshire Physical Activity Strategy and reference it across their own strategies and plans.