Sharing the Learning on Active Design

The latest event shared learning about how to create healthy, active places through active design and healthy placemaking at Holy Trinity Church in, Leeds.

The session brought together physical activity, public health and planning/regeneration colleagues to share learning on how to create healthy, active places through active design and healthy placemaking. 

Tim Howells, head of Public Health in Bradford was one of the presenters and said: "The enthusiastic attendance of key leaders from across the region demonstrates what a key area of work ‘Active Environments’ is.

"It was an opportunity to share insights, foster connections, and reinforce the impact of thoughtful design on community health and our rates of inactivity. It also left me reflecting on where we (as a country) invest our money on trying to make people more physically active.

"Time and time again we hear the importance of increasing the level of physical activity, getting people more active, move more etc.. , but we don’t talk about what in my opinion is the more important framing, of getting people less inactive and e.g. sitting less.

From a health perspective, the biggest benefit comes from getting those that are most inactive (sedentary) to be less inactive. This sedentary time costs the NHS £1b per year, and contributes to over 11% of all deaths. Those that are familiar with the ‘dose response’ curve, will know that our effort should be on this group, and not focusing disproportional investment on people already active or semi-active."

The Sharing the Learning Series provides a space to engage with  different elements of whole systems working and ‘place-based’ approaches. There is a huge amount to share from the work we all do in Place Partnerships and across the region. We also know that there are many other people and places working in this way that have a story to tell.

This series of face-to-face and virtual events brings key regional (and national) partners together to share experiences on whole of systems physical activity approaches.A groups of partners from across Yorkshire and the Humber are working together to achieve this.

Amanda Potter, who works across the three active partnerships across Yorkshire and the Humber said: "This active environments event was an excellent opportunity to showcase some amazing examples of work in local communities that have embedded active design principles as a key element in creating spaces and places where people want to live, work and be active. 

"Creating places for today and our future requires a creative vision and commitment to change, but above all strong and committed partnership from agencies across the public, private and voluntary & community sectors. 

"This event brought together knowledge, experience with passion and enthusiasm to make that change happen and we are looking forward to working with our partners & stakeholders on this exciting journey.'"

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