Regional Mapping
It is widely accepted that Physical Activity and Sport impact across a range of policy drivers and
agendas and as a result a multitude of programmes, projects and initiatives have been developed across
the West Midlands to provide opportunities for people to be active in their local areas. These
programmes are led by a wide ranging number of organisations and partnerships to meet a number of
cross cutting agendas.
In 2003 the BHF National Centre for Physical Activity and Health was commissioned by the West Midlands
Public Health Observatory, Sport England West Midlands, the West Midlands Public Health Group and the
Health Development Agency to conduct an extensive mapping exercise of physical activity programmes
running across the Region.
Aim
The aim of the mapping activity was to generate an initial picture of the nature and extent of direct
of indirect sport, exercise and/or physical activity projects, initiatives and/or policies within
the West Midlands Region.
The mapping exercise was developed to identify existing initiatives and capacity within the region,
reveal gaps in provision, identify examples of best practice, and provide an evidence base for
professionals to use in future planning and development.
The mapping exercise revealed;
- 206 responses were received, detailing over 170 physical activity programmes that are running
across the West Midlands. These programmes demonstrate the wide range of innovative approaches and
partnerships that are being used to promote physical activity across the region.
- 45 programmes/initiatives met elements of the best practice selection criteria that was set by the
researchers.
Follow up interviews have seen 19 initiatives recognised for their Best Practice;
- After Schools Swimming Service, Stoke on Trent
- Asian Ladies Swimming Project, Leamington and Warwick
- BESS Energetic Super Stars, Bilston and Ettingshall
- Busy Breaks, Telford and Wrekin
- Cardiac Rehabilitation, Burton-on-Trent
- PACE GP Referral Scheme, Rugby, Warwick, Leamington and Kenilworth
- Healthy Workplace Initiative, North Staffordshire
- Leisure Link Development Project, Telford and Wrekin
- Physical Activity Consultant, Nuneaton and Bedworth
- Safer Routes to School Project at Tudor Grange School, Solihull
- Safer Routes to School Scheme, Stoke-on-Trent
- The South Wye Fitness Project, Hereford
- Shropshire and Telford Activity Referral Scheme, STARS, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin
- Time to Change, Referral Scheme, Walsall
- Walk 2000, Birmingham
- Walkabout Wrekin, Telford
- Walking for Health, East Staffordshire
- Walsall Walk on, Walsall
Reports
The reports are available to download from the following links:
The audit was begun in March 2006 and comprised of an assessment of the Local Delivery Plans and published information for the regions PCTs and a self completion questionnaire that was sent to a pre identified physical activity lead or the Director of Public Health at each PCT with a cover letter from the Regional Director of Public Health.
The 2008 Physical Activity Audit of Primary Care Trusts provides a current overview of the infrastructure, prioritisation, planning and
delivery of physical activity in the PCTs in the West Midlands up to 2008. The report provides details of the progression of these areas since the original audit in 2006 and makes a number of recommendations for taking the physical activity agenda forward in the region.
PAN-WM would like to thank the Primary Care Trusts in the region who responded to the audits and thank them for their time in completing the questionnaires.
Key findings included:
- Physical activity was noted in 10 different priority areas of local delivery plans (LDPs) in 2008 compared with inclusion in 5 areas in 2006.
- 88% of PCTs report having a physical activity lead compared with 67% in 2006. 81% of PCTs also report having a lead that contributes >50% of their role to physical activity compared with 46% in 2006.
- The total funding from PCTs for physical activity has risen from £1,002,552 in 2006 to £8,102,943 in 2008.
- The average PCT spend on physical activity per head of population rose from 0.19 in 2006 to 1.53 in 2008.
- When asked how the profile of physical activity could be raised with PCTs, responses included the need for consistent and long term high level support and planning with sustained investment, supported by robust data and marketing of simple messages.
The report makes 17 recommendations to support the further development of physical activity throughout the health sector and wider partners in the region. The recommendations are formulated under the following headings:
- Regional strategic and support role from PAN-WM, the Department of Health and wider Regional Partners
- Strategic Recommendations for PCTs
- Training
The Physical Activity Network for the West Midlands and the West Midlands Food Network are working with the West Midlands Public Health Observatory to develop a dynamic mapping facility on this website so that details of initiatives and programmes running across the region can be uploaded onto the website. This facility will provide an up to date searchable database of programmes and initiatives that have been developed to enable the sharing of information, experiences and best practice across the West Midlands. This facility will be available for use in the near future by clicking on the database link on the Networks home page.