“A lot of the UK Coaching workshops are themed around building those softer skills, so, Behaviour Change Tactics, Inclusive Activity Programme, Coaching the Person in Front of You, the Mental Health Awareness for Sport and Physical Activity+ eLearning all help us achieve our outcomes.
“We see these courses providing coaches with the knowledge, skills and behaviours they should have in their coaching toolkit, so we really push them and try to get as many people on as possible.”
A question of priorities
The 43 Active Partnerships across England have a detailed understanding of their local patch and will prioritise different objectives and outcomes within their Sport England-funded workforce strategies based on local need.
These will be influenced by both shifting and static factors including the demographics of their communities, social and economic factors, health trends, population density, prevalence of green space, plus a host of other determinants unique to each county.
In Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes, Shay explains there are four main challenges that are impacting the activity levels of local residents:
- Emotional and mental well-being – “Data shows that both locally and nationally, the number of people living with poor mental well-being has increased. The benefits of regular activity on an individual’s mental well-being is unequivocal, so physical activity has a key role to play in prevention and management.”
- Rural inequalities – “Although Bucks and Milton Keynes is relatively affluent, it has rural areas and pockets of deprivation. This has led to significant health, social and activity level inequalities.”
- The challenge of large-scale housing growth – “There is significant housing and population growth planned for Milton Keynes and Aylesbury. It’s important that we ensure the new communities that are created have opportunities to engage in physical activity; as much to build social cohesion as for the health and well-being benefits.”
- An ageing population – “Estimates expect the county population of residents aged 65+ to increase by between 30-45% in the next 10 years. More importantly we know that inactive people generally spend longer in ill health at the end of their lives.”
For Leap, the aim is to improve the lives of local residents through physical activity and sport – particularly for people who are completely inactive as they experience the greatest benefits.
Workforce is a golden thread that runs through all their work areas and whichever target audience Leap are working with to become more active, great coaching is key.