More UK locations will be part of Get Out Get Active’s (GOGA) success story over the next three years. Thousands more inactive people across 21 locations will benefit from the latest £5 million programme funding and Bassetlaw Action Centre is delighted to announce Bassetlaw is one the successful locations.
The ground-breaking programme began in 2016, created to bring disabled and non-disabled people together to be active. It engages the least active communities in fun, inclusive ways. Now it is set to continue until at least 2023.
In September 2019 the founding funder, Spirit of 2012, awarded a further £3 million to GOGA across the UK. At the same time, Sport England also invested an additional £1 million into England. In January London Marathon Charitable Trust revealed their £1 million grant investment.
Creator and lead partner Activity Alliance teamed up with an extensive range of partners to help GOGA reach more people. These partners offer in-depth local knowledge and national expertise.
GOGA is more than being active. It strengthens community spirit, increases confidence and improves mental health. It increases the demand for, and the accessibility of, activities. These may be provided by local authorities, sports clubs or the voluntary sector. The success is through tapping into people’s real life motivations to be physically active.
The new funding will enable partners to build on phase one’s success and share learning. Initially there were 18 locations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, who together engaged an incredible 20,000 people. Commencing in April 2020, phase two will have 21 locations.
After a stringent process, Bassetlaw was chosen to be part of phase two. The activities here will encompass 10 key principles in increasing activity. These include for example, reassuring people and using communication methods that people can identify with, developing welcoming and suitable opportunities closer to home, focusing on ability not disability, understanding individual values and keeping people interested as their needs change. The aim is to also engage positive role models with differing abilities to promote activity to others.
Working with Bassetlaw District Council, the NHS and other partners, ‘Get Out Get Active’ will support people with long term conditions to help people to access physical activity linked to the Action Centre’s ‘Staying Well Programme’.
Through GOGA Bassetlaw Action Centre intends:
- Building on the Staying Well programme’s approach of action planning so that physical activity is built in and remains a person centred approach in assessing individual need.
- Building on the organic growth of social groups that have developed already from the Staying Well programme, using passionate, motivated individuals who with training and support can continue to support people into physical activity and potentially lead groups themselves.
- Developing a local network of strategic partners across Bassetlaw to understand and address physical activity inequalities across Bassetlaw.
Lynn Tupling, Chief Executive of Bassetlaw Action Centre said: “I am very pleased to announce that we have been chosen to lead on GOGA in Bassetlaw and look forward to dispelling the myth that getting more active means joining a gym. This project will enhance the Staying Well Programme by offering continued support beyond the initial six weeks to participants, and will also offer new opportunities for people to be supported in becoming more active.”
For more information, please visit www.bassetlawactioncentre.org.uk or www.getoutgetactive.co.uk.