Leading Inclusion
In January 2024 Activity Alliance went through the Leading Inclusion process with Active Humber to support their work in embedding inclusion across the region. Following on from this we then completed the full 2-day Leading Inclusion process with members of the Physical Activity and Community Engagement (PACE) network in Withernsea. The PACE network brings together various partners to address the inequalities faced by people from Withernsea.
The timing of the Leading Inclusion process was opportune as the network sought to understand their role and direction post Sport England Local Delivery Pilot funding. The network comprises key leaders who are deeply committed to ensuring inclusivity for all in Withernsea. On day one, we brought together the partners to explore the areas of best practice happening. This allowed partners to learn from each other and start to think how day 2 action planning could move them collectively as a network to be more inclusive of disabled people. The process identified several areas for change, with one of the most significant being the need for the voice of lived experience to inform decisions across the network.
"In 2024 Active Humber collaborated with Active Withernsea and the Physical Activity Community Engagement (PACE) network to foster local change and encourage physical activity in Withernsea.
"Recognising the importance of accessibility, inclusivity and disability (AID), they have formed the PACE AID subcluster. This group aims to create more accessible environments and opportunities for physical activity in the town.
"One significant initiative has been partnering with Activity Alliance to complete their Leading Inclusion training. This training has equipped the PACE AID subcluster with the knowledge and tools needed to drive meaningful cultural change in Withernsea."
Adam Jamieson, Engagement Officer, Active Withernsea
“The leading inclusion training really helped the PACE AID subcluster to identify priorities, start planning our actions and create a more inclusive and accessible environment for the community. Moving forward we’ll be working with venues and clubs to make Withernsea a disability friendly town where everyone can be active.”
Ian Blackburn, Pace AID Member
Watch Paul Downes from Activity Alliance talk about the relationship between Active Humber and Activity Alliance over the past year.
Keep Moving
Keep Moving, an exercise programme for people with lower limb impairments based at the University of Hull, has had another busy year in 2024. After successfully applying for grant funding from the Together fund in 2023, the group received addition funding support from Active Humber’s Get Out Get Active programme to continue and expand into 2024.
The groups impact and achievements were deservedly recognised at the 2024 Disability Sport Yorkshire Annual Awards dinner, where Keep Moving was commended for its considerable contribution towards ensuring access to physical activity for disabled people by winning the Cyril Villiers Organisation of the Year award. This is a significant achievement and well deserved in recognition of the work that the group and staff does, not only in relation to physical activity, but also tackling mental health issues and social isolation that people with a disability or long term health condition can be susceptible to.
Figures from the Activity Alliance Annual Disability survey state that:
of disabled people who felt lonely agreed that being active could help them feel less lonely. Activity Alliance, Annual Disability and Activity Survey 2023-24.
In the summer Keep Moving showcased their work at the VCSE Collaborative Voluntary Showcase event, held in Beverly and facilitated by the HEY Smile Foundation. Supported by Active Humber the group ran a number of sessions throughout the day, promoting the vital work they do.
Keep Moving is the only group-based programme to deliver supervised exercise for adults with a lower limb amputation in the Humber region. This inclusive programme has increased participation in physical activity for people who have mobility impairments following lower limb amputation. Its key aims are to make physical activity more accessible, reduce falls, improve strength and balance confidence, and develop a sense of togetherness for its participants.
The programme is being delivered face-to-face and online in partnership with the Limbless Association, therefore increasing the reach of the programme and ensuring that people from outside of the area are able benefit from physical activity.
Thanks to KEEP MOVING, people with limb loss have a place to meet, exercise and feel good together.
Find out more about the great work Keep Moving are doing here:
Vision Through Action CIC
In 2024 Active Humber have been working closely with Vision Through Action, a CIC set up by visually impaired Paralympian Roy Turnham. Vision Through Action’s mission is to improve the day-to-day confidence, mobility and independence of visually impaired children and adults through sport and physical activity.
Research from British Blind Sport identifies numerous barriers faced by visually impaired people when attempting to access physical activity. For example:
- Many visually impaired people are constantly told they can’t do sport.
- Mainstream PE teachers are often unsure how to integrate visually impaired students into their sessions.
- Visually impaired people may have low confidence in their abilities if they have had negative experiences in sport.
Roy tells us that:
“As an experienced paralympic athlete and sports coach I am in the privileged position of being able to take pride in the skills I have developed, rather than focussing on the sight I don’t have. My aim is to promote this positivity in other people who are struggling to come to terms with their sight loss, whilst challenging the often low expectations of society when it comes to visual impairment.”
In addition Roy has also recently become a Community Ambassador with Active Humber, working to inspire people from different backgrounds to be more active. Roy tells us a bit more about why he was inspired to become a community ambassador:
“As a Paralympian I take my responsibility to inspire people to be active and live a healthy lifestyle very seriously. Whilst competing full time for England and Great Britain, I have always been heavily involved in grass roots sport and community projects, including running a local multisport provision for people with a vision impairment, delivering fitness workshops in primary schools and working for sight-loss charities. Whilst I am still striving for success at the top level in my sport, I am equally committed to promoting the day-to-day benefits of taking part and enjoying sport on a local level.”
2025 promises to be an exciting year for Vision Through Action and Active Humber will be supporting them throughout.
