1. General scope of the Pilot Action
We plan to have a 3 phase approach to the pilot:
- To map the opportunities for Citizens to undertake physical opportunities across the Municipality.
- Challenge local sports clubs and community groups to organise and deliver some innovative activities in areas which would not ordinarily be used for sport or physical activity. In particular groups will be advised to draw inspiration from the good practice examples on the Hepness website
Produce a “Finder” application on our website which will allow citizens to identify opportunities to undertake physical activity. The Council will maintain and develop this facility in order to sustain the momentum created by Hepness.
2. Specific goals and tasks to be fulfilled
Our goals for each phase are:
- To compile a comprehensive list of all the areas in the municipality where citizen can either undertake independent physical activity, organise a group for an activity or to participate in an already established activity. This will include parks, open spaces, multi-use games areas, sports pitches, urban green areas and playparks.
- Identify the potential areas and facilities
- Begin populating the existing website with the identified areas. In the first instance citizens will be able to access the information through the Walking and Cycling section of our existing website: https://getactiveabc.com/homepage/walking-cycling/
- To encourage local clubs and communities to consider innovative ways to utilise the urban environment for physical activity and to raise awareness of a more joined up approach between planners, local government and citizens toward creating healthy environments.
- Release a call through our website and social media for clubs and communities to apply for funding to undertake events / activities.
- Promote the Hepness website and good practices using our social media platforms
- Organise a series of events across the municipality demonstrating the ways in which citizens and organised groups can become creative in using their local environment to be active.
- To produce a very user friendly front end application where citizens will be able to easily identify ways in which they can pursue a healthier and more active lifestyle. We will achieve this by:
- Engaging a third party expert to help design the “finder” application
- Promoting the application widely using social media and traditional marketing activities
Broadening the scope of the finder to include as many local providers of opportunities –local government / Private Sector / Third Sector.
3. Target groups aimed by the activities
We are particularly targeting those individuals and groups who have been identified as being the least active. These include:
- Teenage girls
- Men over 50
- Pre teenagers from areas of high social need
- The Disabled
- Ethnic Minorities
4. Methodology and tools
To deliver an innovative programme that targets those least likely to take part, our approach will be to use the below principles:
- Affordability – Projects are designed to ensure that activities have as low a financial cost as possible to participants. This will enable the communities or target groups to continue taking part beyond the life of the project
- Practicability – projects and activities are delivered within communities, using local facilities and services, and where possible using facilitators from within that community or target group.
- Effectiveness – Projects deliver activities that are attractive, engaging, and suitable to the needs of the target group or community. For example, activities used to engage with young females will vary markedly from those used to engage with older frail people. Projects are monitored and evaluated through Action Planning and Key Performance Indicators to ensure effectiveness.
- Equity – Projects are designed with as little barriers to participation as possible and enable as many people within a community or target group to take part if desired, being mindful of ability levels, cultural issues etc
- Communication – Informing the community or target group of the benefits of physical activity, what’s on offer and where this can take place is vital to ensure communities are engaged in the process. Listening to the community or target group to understand their needs and motivations.
Partnerships – Maintaining strong links with all sectors including Community & Voluntary, Public and Private to ensure efficient use of resources and that the above engagement principles are maximised.
5. Expected impacts and benefits from the pilot actions
We hope that the pilot actions will encourage citizens and groups to reconsider their approach to using their immediate environment to keep active and healthy.
In the short term we expect that existing groups will continue with the events and activities they have been encouraged to initiate through Hepness. We also expect individuals to inspired by the pilot and the associated publicity and hence we will see an increase in the usage of outdoor spaces and facilities.
In the longer term we expect the educational aspect of Hepness – particularly the best practice examples and awareness raising – will lead to an increase in walking, play, street games and cycling across our municipality.
6. Strategy to mainstream the pilot action
We intend to utilise our taskforce partners to carry forward the Hepness principles in association with us.
We will primarily gear our Sports Club grant awarding criteria towards clubs and projects which embrace the Hepness principles and who will run events / activities which promote same.